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Henry Bayer
PI Original
by Matthew Blake
1:51pm
Mon Sep 17, 2012
1 comment

Why Pat Quinn's Relationship With Labor Is On The Rocks

Labor

On August 10, Gov. Pat Quinn visited Caterpillar machinists on a picket line in Joliet, donating $10,000 to a union strike fund. But Quinn offered no position on the walkout, except bromides such as “believe in yourselves” to machinists who had been on strike for more than three months.

Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
3:17pm
Fri Aug 24, 2012

City Homeless Plan Includes Outsourcing Overnight Transport Services

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced a plan yesterday for which the city will spend $2.5 million a year to help its homeless residents. AFSCME Council 31 public employees union is upset about the plan because the strategy will outsource the city’s overnight homeless transport service.

Privatization plan aside, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless says that Emanuel has at least taken steps toward identifying the scope of the homelessness problem in the city. Read more »

Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
6:24pm
Mon Aug 13, 2012

Illinois Unions Offer Pension Compromise

With the Illinois General Assembly holding a one-day special session Friday to address the state’s pension liabilities, unions fiercely opposed to pending legislation offered a compromise today.

We Are One coalition members said on a conference call this afternoon that they would let current public employees increase their pension contributions if the state met three conditions: guaranteed funding of the state’s five pension systems, an end to several tax loopholes, and maintenance of today’s benefit level for current retirees. Read more »

PI Original
by Matthew Blake
6:10pm
Tue Aug 7, 2012

Lawsuit To Halt Prison Closings Will Be Heard Tomorrow

Prisons

A hearing is set for 9 a.m. tomorrow in an Alexander County courthouse on a lawsuit filed by the AFSCME Council 31 public employees union as a means to stop corrections and juvenile justice facility closings ordered by Gov. Pat Quinn. It is not known if Illinois Circuit Court Judge Charles Cavaness will issue a ruling tomorrow as well.

Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
5:05pm
Thu Jul 19, 2012
1 comment

AFSCME: Prison Closures Pose Danger To Corrections System

AFSCME Local Council 31, which represents state corrections workers, forcefully argued in Springfield today that Gov. Pat Quinn’s planned prison closings put an overcrowded system over the edge – and could lead to more prison violence.

There is clear evidence the system is overcrowded. Less clear is whether the August 31 closure of Tamms super max prison and Dwight women’s prison, along with additional facility closings, will lead to more violence. Read more »