Speaker Madigan reminds the unions who’s in charge

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan turned down an invitation to a pension summit sponsored by public employee unions. Madigan sent a firm letter to Michael Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO. Carrigan also heads the We Are One Illinois coalition of public employee unions. “In my view, the positions of organized labor were taken into...

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan turned down an invitation to a pension summit sponsored by public employee unions.

Madigan sent a firm letter to Michael Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO. Carrigan also heads the We Are One Illinois coalition of public employee unions.

“In my view, the positions of organized labor were taken into account during the 2012 legislative session,” Madigan wrote. “I recall no fewer than eight high-level meetings that took place with labor, legislative leaders and the governor. At that time, I felt there was little willingness from representatives of labor to draft a comprehensive, common-sense solution.”

Madigan letter to Michael Carrigan regarding union pension summit