SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration is attempting to recruit retirees to take over for state workers in case of a strike, and Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly doesn’t deny that the calls are being made, or that a plan is in the works to bring in the National Guard to fill positions if a strike is called.
According to the Southern Illinoisan, a former top commander of the Illinois National Guard voiced concern Monday about another possible plan of Rauner’s to use National Guard soldiers to help operate state government if there is a labor strike.
State Rep. David Harris, an Arlington Heights Republican who served as adjutant general from 1999 to 2003, said he would advise Rauner against such a move.
Kelly says the administration is actively pursuing all options to continue important services in the event that AFSCME chooses to strike, rather than agree to proposals similar to those recently ratified by the Teamsters.
A Teamsters local representing about 350 workers in Cook County recently agreed to a new contract that included a four-year wage freeze, but incentive bonuses.
AFSCME said the fact the administration is contacting retirees about returning to work “is the smoking gun that shows Rauner is seeking to cause a crisis.”
AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall says the move echoes Rauner’s repeated threats on the campaign trail to shut down state government and the public services it provides in order to strip the rights of public service workers and drive down their middle-class standards of living.
Lindall says their union has never had a strike in state government, emphasizing that state employees don’t want to be forced to strike.
As far as Rauner’s plan for bringing back retired employees, retired persons can only come back for 75 days or their pension will be stopped. So the retired person plan has a rather limited timespan and effectiveness.
According to the Southern Illinoisan, a former top commander of the Illinois National Guard voiced concern Monday about another possible plan of Rauner’s to use National Guard soldiers to help operate state government if there is a labor strike.
State Rep. David Harris, an Arlington Heights Republican who served as adjutant general from 1999 to 2003, said he would advise Rauner against such a move.
It should also be asked if the retired employees would support a governor who is seeking to triple their health care costs if he wins this fight.