SPRINGFIELD (April 4, 2017) – Today, the Illinois Supreme Court said it will not fast-track a case aimed at settling the dispute between Illinois government and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union that represents more than 35,000 state employees in Illinois.

It’s been nearly two years since the state’s contract with the union expired. The union is seeking wage and benefit increases, while the governor says a more reasonable contract is necessary to help balance the budget.

Since the two parties could not reach an agreement, Gov. Bruce Rauner asked the high court to expedite a case that will determine whether the state is at an impasse in contract negotiations with AFSCME. If the court ruled that the parties were at impasse, then Rauner could implement his contract.

But today the court denied Rauner’s request. The Illinois Supreme Court’s decision means the 4th District Appellate Court must first hear the case instead.

While the court’s judgment is routine, the implications could cost taxpayers millions and cause the case to drag on for months – or longer. There is no timeline for when the 4th District Appellate or Illinois Supreme Court will take up the case or issue a decision.

Labor experts from the Illinois Policy Institute and Liberty Justice Center are available to provide context for what’s occurring in the courthouse and Statehouse.

EXPERTS AVAILABLE:
Mailee Smith, staff attorney and labor relations expert, Illinois Policy Institute

Jacob Huebert, senior attorney at the Liberty Justice Center, a public interest litigation center. The Liberty Justice Center has filed a case challenging forced union fees for employees of Illinois, Janus v. AFSCME.

BACKGROUND: AFSCME, the government worker union representing more than 35,000 state employees in Illinois, has been without a contract for nearly two years. After months of negotiations, the Illinois Labor Relations Board determined in November 2016 that contract negotiations between the state and AFSCME were at impasse, or deadlock. AFSCME appealed the labor board’s decision in an attempt to stop the state from implementing its last, best offer.

In March, the 4th District Appellate Court issued an order preventing the administration from implementing the contract until the court made a final determination on whether the two sides are at impasse.

For each month the governor cannot implement the contract, Illinois pays an additional $35 million to $40 million in health care coverage alone.

According to the Illinois governor’s office, current union demands for a contract will cost the state an additional $3 billion in wage and benefit increases. The goal of Rauner’s negotiations was to bring union costs more in line with what Illinoisans can afford.

For bookings or interviews, contact: Diana Rickert or Melanie Krakauer, media@illinoispolicy.org or 312-980-1259

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The Illinois Policy Institute is a leading nonpartisan research and education organization that generates positive and sustainable policy solutions for citizens and lawmakers to help unleash talent and entrepreneurial ability. To learn more about the Institute, visit www.illinoispolicy.org.
The Liberty Justice Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest law firm that specializes in protecting individual rights and enforcing limits on government power. To learn more about the Liberty Justice Center, visit libertyjusticecenter.org.