Will the new AFSCME contract keep letting workers off the hook for missing work?
Will the new AFSCME contract keep letting workers off the hook for missing work?
Imagine a football game where the referees threw flags and called out penalties, but never actually marked off the yardage. That’s exactly how the “Affirmative Attendance Policy” within the previous American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees works: a state worker can blow off work at least 10 times with nothing worse than a...
By Paul Kersey
How a state government employee can get a 30 percent raise in just four years
How a state government employee can get a 30 percent raise in just four years
The convoluted process of figuring out a unionized state government employee’s wages is a prime example of why the collective bargaining process needs more sunshine. While we wait for details on the contract that the state agreed to with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, it’s worth examining how to figure out...
By Paul Kersey
The new AFSCME contract: a deal Illinois can’t afford
The new AFSCME contract: a deal Illinois can’t afford
Gov. Pat Quinn managed to avoid a government worker strike, but that doesn’t spell success. There is still much that remains unknown about the terms of the tentative agreement that Illinois just reached with Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, but the main features that are emerging paint a...
By Paul Kersey
New AFSCME contract?
New AFSCME contract?
Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees announced a few minutes ago that they have reached a tentative agreement with the state of Illinois. As of right now the terms are unknown. While they will leak out to the public slowly, there is no guarantee that the general public will get...
By Paul Kersey
Follow the money: CPS school closings, teacher layoffs mean lost union dues
Follow the money: CPS school closings, teacher layoffs mean lost union dues
After Chicago Public Schools officials gave notice that the district would be closing 54 schools and a total of 61 buildings, Chicago Teachers Union leaders were quick to decry the move, citing concern for students and fear of ruining neighborhoods.
Reckless rhetoric how CTU has become the roadblock to education reform in Chicago
Reckless rhetoric how CTU has become the roadblock to education reform in Chicago
Karen Lewis basically accused the CPS board and Mayor Rahm Emanuel of racism.
CPS school closings: the writing was on the wall
CPS school closings: the writing was on the wall
Chicago Public Schools on Thursday announced the largest school shakeup in the nation: closing 54 schools and 61 buildings, jostling 30,000 kids and leaving the future of more than 1,000 teachers unclear
When it comes to the AFSCME contract, taxpayers still in the dark
When it comes to the AFSCME contract, taxpayers still in the dark
After all, there is a basic democratic principle in play: An informed citizenry can hold its government in check. But how can we hold Quinn accountable if the information we receive is only what he chooses to share?
Laying blame: union bosses also culpable for pension crisis
Laying blame: union bosses also culpable for pension crisis
In case you missed it, a couple of days ago journalist Dave McKinney of the Chicago Sun-Times put together an interesting history lesson on how the state of Illinois wound up committing securities fraud.
By Paul Kersey
AFSCME memo releases new details on potential strike
AFSCME memo releases new details on potential strike
The Herald and Review has managed to get ahold of a new bulletin from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, to its members. This new message indicates that the union is getting closer to calling for a strike, and gives the union’s rationale for a walkout, revealing some very useful facts on the state...
By Paul Kersey
Contagion: Strike fever spreads across Illinois
Contagion: Strike fever spreads across Illinois
[updated Feb. 4, 2013] With the Chicago Teachers Union having waged a largely successful strike against the Chicago Public Schools, we can expect to see other public school unions, and maybe other government employee unions, following their example. Strikes allow unions to preserve costly wages and benefits, or block needed reforms, by shutting down...
By Paul Kersey
AFSCME: Steps toward a walkout
AFSCME: Steps toward a walkout
The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, Council 31 sent a message to its employees last week urging them to prepare for a walkout.
AFSCME to state workers: Prepare for a strike
AFSCME to state workers: Prepare for a strike
The states largest employee union is urging its members to be prepared for the possibility of a strike.
West Chicago teacher strike: lack of collective bargaining transparency leaves taxpayers in the dark
West Chicago teacher strike: lack of collective bargaining transparency leaves taxpayers in the dark
Faced with the prospect of lean financial times, the West Chicago Elementary District 33 school board decided it would be prudent to reduce automatic annual pay increases and lengthen the amount of time it takes for teachers to reach the top of pay scale