Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s administration is trying to convince state employees that a strike would be “reckless.” About 30,000 state employees who belong to the union AFSCME are starting a 3-week-long process in which they’ll be voting on whether they should strike.
If they vote yes, a strike would not immediately occur; the vote just gives AFSCME the authority to call a strike down the road. The vote is the result of a lengthy fight between the union and Governor Rauner.
In an email to state workers today, a member of Rauner’s administration warns employees against striking saying it would disrupt their pay, health insurance, and pensions. The email also says the strike would be “against the taxpayers" and talks about a potential disruption in government services.
AFSCME has said Rauner prematurely walked away from negotiations.
