Governors Day News Coverage Aug.

17, 2011

AFL-CIO Says Quinn Needs To Make Good On Pay Raises Wednesday, August 17 2011 (Springfield) -- Several hundred state workers are planning to picket outside the state fair gates today. Illinois AFL-CIO president Michael Carrigan says they want Governor Quinn to make good on negotiated pay raises. He says it's not just about the money, it's about protecting the integrity of union contracts. Carrigan says Quinn's move to freeze union pay raises undermines worker rights. The governor reneged on the contracted raises because he says lawmakers didn't include money in the budget to pay them. The unions have filed a federal lawsuit in an effort to get Quinn to pay up.

Unions protest Quinn at state fair

By the Associated Press Thursday, August 18, 2011 SPRINGFIELD Policy disputes trumped party unity Wednesday as Illinois Democrats gathered for a perfunctory celebration of Governors Day at the state fair. Unions protested Gov. Pat Quinns attempt to cancel raises promised in labor contracts with state government, while Quinn blamed legislators. ... Union leaders held a news conference to condemn Quinn for blocking raises. Rank-andfile union members protested outside the fairgrounds with signs saying Collective bargaining is the American way and Gov. Quinn, keep your word. Theyre angry that the governor, saying lawmakers didnt give him enough money, is trying to block raises for about 30,000 union employees. Unions say they made concessions to help balance the state budget, such as delaying raises and taking unpaid furlough days, and that its improper for Quinn to unilaterally decide he wont honor the contract. How do you govern without integrity? How does anybody trust your word? said one protester, Jason Johnston, who works at the state Environmental Protection Agency. We go to the table and negotiate. We want the contract to be honored. Union leaders accused Quinn of a fundamental assault on workers rights but stopped short of threatening to withhold campaign contributions or to back Quinns opponent in future elections. Still, those steps could be taken eventually, they suggested. We cant just give money away to politicians that turn around and screw us, said Tim Drea, secretary-treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO. An arbitrator sided with the union, but Quinn appealed to the courts, which have not yet ruled on his attempt to block the raises. Quinn continued to defend his actions, saying lawmakers passed a budget that didnt provide enough money to pay the raises and still keep key state agencies running. Sometimes you have to tell your friends not what they want to hear but what they need to know, Quinn said. I dont know why they constantly focus only on me when the General Assembly is the one who didnt appropriate the money in the first place. Lawmakers did give Quinn less money to work with, but they didnt order him to cut the scheduled raises. Some lawmakers say they think Quinn could have cut elsewhere instead. The governor also had the option of vetoing the budget if he felt it was fundamentally flawed, but Quinn has said he didnt want to do that because it would give Republican legislators a chance to get involved in budget talks.

Quinn, unions clash at Governors Day at Illinois State Fair

BY DAVE MCKINNEY Springfield Bureau Chief August 17, 2011 12:12PM Labor strife marred Governors Day at the Illinois State Fair Wednesday as the states largest public-employee unions teed off on Gov. Pat Quinn for his fundamental assault on workers rights. That storyline, rooted in a series of pay raises Quinn yanked last month for about 30,000 state workers, dominated the Democratic Partys annual Illinois State Fairgrounds pep rally, which boasted a crowd of several hundred party supporters. The days political events also were overshadowed by the appearance of President Barack Obama about two hours away from Springfield. They took place despite a prominent absentee, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois, House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago). Madigan, normally a fixture at the Democratic events at the State Fair, opted uncharacteristically to skip the rally and the Obama event in order to spend some time with members of his family out of state, Madigan spokesman Steve Brown told the Chicago Sun-Times. Brown would not divulge the whereabouts of the party boss or answer anything beyond the stock statement he provided involving Madigans apparent summer vacation. That left Quinn as the chief host at the event, where he touted his record as governor, praised Obama and got his licks in on the evolving GOP presidential field. But he was thrust into the uncomfortable position of getting picketed by one of the core constituencies that helped elect him in 2010: organized labor. With each passing day the governor leaves a more bitter taste in the mouths of public employees, said Roberta Lynch, deputy director of AFSCME Council 31, the largest public employees union in the state and one of nine unions to present a united front against Quinn at Wednesdays Democratic Party festivities. Union protestors manned several entrances to the fairgrounds, holding up signs that said, Gov. Quinn Keep Your Word and Collective Bargaining is the American Way. The unions are furious with Quinn for his move to nix scheduled pay hikes for state workers and to sign off on legislation that makes pensions for new teachers and government employees less generous. Tim Drea, secretary-treasurer for the Illinois State AFL-CIO, referred to Quinns actions as a fundamental assault on workers rights and a flat-out assault on the bargaining process itself. But the governor defended his actions, saying the state Legislature tied his hands on the pay hikes. Working people are behind me. I know that every day, Quinn said. Working people around Illinois understand if the Legislature doesnt appropriate money for pay raises for any people, they dont get pay raises. There is no money to pay these pay raises. On July 1, Quinn said he was going to renege on a series of pay raises that would have given state workers raises totaling 5.25 percent by Feb. 1. Some of the raises had been deferred from previous years, a move which the unions said they approved to help the state with its finances. Quinn is now challenging an arbitrators ruling siding with the unions, while AFSCME has sued the Quinn administration in federal court.

Labor rift in Illinois clouds up state fair party unity day for Democrats
BY KEVIN McDERMOTT Wednesday, August 17, 2011 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. What was supposed to be a day of unity for Democrats in Illinois today instead became a spotlight on the growing rift between the party's leaders and its core constituency of labor unions. Today is "Governor's Day" at the Illinois State Fair, an event at which the governor's party traditionally gathers on the Springfield fairgrounds to rally around speeches by party officials and fire up the base. The rally went on as scheduled, with Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn in attendance. But many of the state union workers who normally would be in the audience for the Democratic event were instead gathered at different entrance gates around the fairgrounds, waving signs imploring Quinn to "keep your word" and touting the urgency of collective bargaining rights. No, it's quite a Wisconsin-style showdownyetbut AFSCME (the main state employee union) and others are furious with Quinn for refusing to approve pay raises already set in contract for some 30,000 state employees. For many, the issue has become personal, since they've generally viewed Quinn as an ally. "I voted for him," said one of the protestors, Patty Hinds, an employee of the Taylorville Correctional Center. "I'm ashamed of myself." Quinn says the blame lies with the state Legislature, for failing to appropriate the money necessary for the raises. "They really ought to go see members of the General Assembly," Quinn said today, when asked about the anger being directed toward him by his one-time allies in labor. An arbitrator has already ruled against Quinn's administration in the issue, but Quinn is suing to have it overturned.

Racing industry, unions confront Quinn at Governor's Day

By CHRIS WETTERICH THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER Aug 18, 2011 Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn faced discord from both union members and those who want Quinn to sign a bill expanding gambling in Illinois Wednesday, as he tried to rally a sparse crowd of Democrats at the Illinois State Fair. On Governors Day, Quinn drove past scores of union members protesting his decision to cancel pay raises for 30,000 state workers. Once he got to the Directors Lawn at the fairgrounds, he was met by dozens of people in orange shirts, urging him to approve a bill that would bring slot machines and harness racing to the fairgrounds nine months a year. Public employee unions also stepped on the party-unity message at the pre-rally Democratic County Chairmens breakfast. At a news conference, one union leader suggested labor could withhold financial support over the pay raise issue. We cant just give money away to politicians that turn around and screw us, said Tim Drea, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO. The governor blamed state lawmakers. Sometimes you gotta tell your friends not what they want to hear, but what they need to know, Quinn said. I dont know why they (union members) constantly focus only on me when the General Assembly is the one that didnt appropriate the money in the first place. But state Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, said the governor mishandled the situation. Lawmakers expected Quinn to hold down spending by not filling vacant positions, Sullivan said. If you enter into a contract and you make an agreement, and then you go back and say, Well, Im not going to adhere to that contract its going to make it pretty tough to negotiate down the road, he said.

Many Unhappy With Quinn During Governor's Day Posted: Aug 17, 2011 5:46 PM CDT SPRINGFIELD, IL- Pat Quinn got an earful from organized labor during Governor's Day at the Illinois State Fair. AFSCME, the state's largest employees union, set up pickets at every gate at the fair Wednesday, urging the governor to give them their contracted pay raises. Roberta Lynch of AFSCME Council 31, says union employees are "angry and frustrated" with the governor. Governor Quinn is also under pressure to sign the gambling expansion bill. Supports say that bill SB744 is a jobs bill, and without it horse racing may leave the state within the next few years. The bill was sent to Governor Quinn's desk two months ago, but he has yet to say whether or not he will sign it.

Unions Protest Quinn On Governors Day At State Fair August 17, 2011 4:16 PM SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) Governors Day at the Illinois State Fair usually means interest groups will try to catch the governors ear as well as those of his supporters. This year was no exception as union members gathered at every entrance to the state fairgrounds, handing out colorful balloons for children and fans for the adults. Both items read Governor Quinn, keep your word. Randy Hellman, president of the American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees local 943 says the demonstration isnt just about workers getting their promised raises, which Quinn abruptly canceled. What youre seeing here today is people saying to the governor, Governor, you know, we collectively bargained this agreement, weve worked shorthanded, weve done our job. Dont renege on your end of the bargain. Thats what this is about, says Hellman. When asked about the demonstration, Quinn suggested the unions talk to the legislature, which he says didnt appropriate enough money to pay for the raises.

Quinn on the defensive in face of union protests

Thursday, Aug 18, 2011 * Gov. Pat Quinn was more than a little defensive yesterday when asked by reporters about the union protesters outside the State Fair gates. The protesters were upset at Quinns decision to halt scheduled, contractual raises for unionized state employees Sometimes you gotta tell your friends not what they want to hear, but what they need to know, Quinn said. I dont know why they (union members) constantly focus only on me when the General Assembly is the one that didnt appropriate the money in the first place. * One of the Senates budget experts wasnt so kind to the governor, however But state Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, said the governor mishandled the situation. Lawmakers expected Quinn to hold down spending by not filling vacant positions, Sullivan said. If you enter into a contract and you make an agreement, and then you go back and say, Well, Im not going to adhere to that contract its going to make it pretty tough to negotiate down the road, he said. Very true. Also, if the governor hadnt made himself so irrelevant in the budget process last spring, he might not be in this mess today. * But Ill believe this when I see it At a news conference, one union leader suggested labor could withhold financial support over the pay raise issue. We cant just give money away to politicians that turn around and screw us, said Tim Drea, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO. * The governor claimed that he had the support of working people, if not union leaders Working people are behind me. I know that every day, Quinn said. * Yet theres no doubt that union leaders have cranked up the rhetoric With each passing day the governor leaves a more bitter taste in the mouths of public employees, said Roberta Lynch, deputy director of AFSCME Council 31, the largest public employees union in the state and one of nine unions to present a united front against Quinn at Wednesdays Democratic Party festivities. Union protestors manned several entrances to the fairgrounds, holding up signs that said, Gov. Quinn Keep Your Word and Collective Bargaining is the American Way.