Posted on 07/29/2023 1:04:15 PM PDT by george76
The state of Illinois reached a new contract agreement with members of the AFSCME union that will cost taxpayers an additional $620 million over four years.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday announced the agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The state's previous contract with the union expired at the end of June.
The $620 million in additional costs amounts to a raise of nearly 18% during that time. About $200 million of that would be during the current fiscal year.
“Illinois is a pro-worker state, and when it comes to workers’ rights, my administration is committed to ensuring that every Illinoisan has access to good-paying opportunities,” Pritzker said in a statement. “This contract represents a partnership that won’t just expand our pool of state employees. It will strengthen our state’s workforce and provide opportunity for employees and their families."
Bryce Hill of the Illinois Policy Institute told The Center Square a deal this large could have unfavorable consequences on the state's taxpayers.
"The AFSCME contract is more generous than what taxpayers can afford," Hill said. "It's increasing faster than total personal incomes in the state. It is increasing faster than hourly wages in the state. It's increasing faster than average weekly earnings. So on virtually every metric, the private sector wage increases are not keeping up with this contract, which means taxpayers are going to see a larger share of their paycheck going towards subsidizing these pay raises."
In 2022, the Illinois Comptroller's salary database shows all state employees combined were paid over $6 billion. That's more than $200 million more than the $5.8 billion spent in 2021.
Hill said along with the new contract, workers will also receive bonuses.
"Current employees of AFSCME are going to get stipends of $1,200 upon the ratification of the agreement," Hill said. "Not only are there going to be wage gains in excess of what the private sector is getting and what the state can afford, but we are also going to be giving out apparent bonuses to members."
How do the south-of-the-border types fit in?
They can sign up to be law enforcement officers. Why not other state employee positions?
From a couple of weeks ago...
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/report-illinois-chicago-public-pension-crises-worst-in-u-s/
Good luck gettin’ a job in that system if you don’t “know someone!” Talk about a closed society!
And the folks that work in the private sector continue to get screwed.
It was reported earlier that Guber Prickster didn’t include any funds for a union settlement in the recently passed and VERY phony “balanced budget” for Ill-Annoy.
This is why the previous smarter generations of Americans wouldn’t allow government employees to belong to corrupt unions. It was called shooting yourself in the foot if you did.
Yup, real conservative.
The real slide downhill started with passage of the 17th Amendment to the US Constitution.
Audit the financials. Someone/s stealing $
And is's evil partner the 16th.
Pretty soon Dow Chemical will invent a check that bounces even higher!
Look for the union label.
Government employees should not be unionized. Too much potential for mischief.
Guber Prickster”
Hilarious, love it. What does this bastard care it’s not his money, It’s tax payer money and he can us it to buy more rat support from the unions.
Afsholeme the asshole of unions.
Democrats and Unions ... walking hand in hand ... at taxpayers’ expense.
Money laundering
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