Thousands of union supporters are rallying outside the Illinois Capitol to protest Gov. Bruce Rauner's calls to change collective bargaining policies. A coalition of labor groups marched by the governor's mansion today on their way to the Capitol.
Rauner is in the midst of prolonged negotiations for a new labor contract with the largest union representing state workers, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
The march comes days after he vetoed a measure that would let an arbitrator settle state-employee wages and working conditions if union negotiations stalled.
Rauner said appointing an arbitrator would strip him of his power to represent taxpayers at the bargaining table.
The governor and AFSCME are making their cases to the state labor board as to whether contract negotiations have stalled.
