Legislative Update

March 16, 2009


Get Ready to Fight Big Battle to Raise Taxes – The State of Illinois has an $11.5 billion budget hole—and that deficit gets bigger every day. Gov. Pat Quinn has made clear that he intends to follow the course AFSCME has long advocated and raise the state’s income tax to address this shortfall.
And his political opposition is already gearing up for a fight. They say Illinois should CUT its way out of its budget woes. That simply can’t be done. If the Governor were to eliminate the entire state workforce—and close down every prison, every state park, unemployment office, child protection service and more—that would save $3 billion, the total wage cost for state employees. Where would the other $6 billion come from????
AFSCME members know all too well that state government has already been cut to the bone, state universities have already raised tuition and cut programs, local governments cannot afford to lose a penny in state aid, and community disability agencies are already vastly underfunded. There is nowhere to make cuts of anything close to that magnitude.
So a tax increase is the only answer. And it is going to be up to us to get that message out to our members and the wider public—to stand up against those who would deliberately deceive by claiming that we can cut our way out of Illinois’ fiscal crisis.
Action Needed: The Council will be getting materials out to local unions soon regarding the necessity of raising the state income tax in order to maintain vital public services. Let your state representatives and senators know that you support an income tax increase.

…And Fight Pension Cutbacks Too – Unfortunately, the hue and cry for cutbacks has led the Governor and legislative leaders to turn to the state’s pension system—which has its own enormous deficit. Although it is not official yet, apparently Gov. Quinn is going to propose reducing the pension benefits for new hires in state government. (We don’t know at this point whether he will propose reductions for employees in any other pension systems—e.g. university, city of Chicago, etc., but we’d better be prepared ) There is also talk that the Governor will propose raising contributions or cutting retiree health care benefits for current employees as well.
Action Needed: Big business is making an all out effort to drastically cut back public employee pensions. AFSCME will be sending out materials for distribution to all union members about the importance of standing up to protect our pension benefits. If we don’t do it, no one else will. Tell your legislators that Illinois pension benefits are modest and well-deserved—and should not be diminished for current employees or those yet to come.

Some good news – Last week Governor Quinn announced that he is reversing his predecessor’s plans to close the Pontiac Correctional Center and to move the IDOT Division of Traffic Safety out of Springfield. AFSCME applauds these decisions which will end the many months of fear and anxiety that beset the employees at these sites who faced losing their jobs or being forced to uproot their families. There is no doubt that these reversals would not have occurred without the intensive protest campaigns waged by Local 494 and Local 2813, working in conjunction with Council 31’s vigorous legal, public relations, and lobbying efforts.

FY10 Budget Should Provide Adequate Staff – Gov. Quinn will present his FY10 budget plan this week (3/18). AFSCME is continuing to press the Governor’s Office and legislative leaders to address the critical problem of understaffing in state agencies by assuring adequate staffing levels in the upcoming FY ‘10 budget. State agencies have already been cut to the bone—and state services are suffering as a result. Even so, given the state’s dire fiscal problems and the willful ignorance on the part of right-wing, anti-government forces, there will undoubtedly be calls for further cuts to state agencies—and we will need to be prepared to intensify the battle for adequate staffing levels.

Budget Plan Should Keep Sites/Facilities Open -- AFSCME is also pressing for the reversal of the previous governor’s closures of state historic sites and the planned closures of Tinley Park MHC and Howe DC. And Council 31 is pushing to expand capacity at Thomson Correctional Center so that more than 200 newly-hired members employed there will not be left in limbo, not knowing where they might be offered employment.

End forced overtime (SB1369/HB1054) By continuing to press for enactment of legislation that would ban forced overtime (SB1369, sponsored by Sen. Frerichs and HB1054, sponsored by Rep. Dugan), we can heighten public—and legislative—awareness of the damage done by inadequate staffing levels, especially in 24-hour facilities. This legislation would ban forced overtime in IDOC, DJJ, DHS and Vets Affairs facilities. AFSCME Position: Support. Status: SB1369 passed out of the Labor Committee and is on Second Reading in the Senate; HB 1054 is in the House Rules Committee.

Require legislative approval for closures (SB327/HB2376) -- Council 31 is working to enact legislation that will require greater legislative oversight of any proposed closure. SB357, sponsored by Sen. Crotty, and HB2367, sponsored by Rep. Gordon, would amend the state’s Facility Closure Act to require that if a facility or site is funded in the budget enacted by the General Assembly, it cannot subsequently be closed without a joint resolution of the General Assembly approving the closure. AFSCME Position: Support. Status: SB327 passed out of the State Government Committee and is on Second Reading in the Senate; HB2376 passed out of the House State Government Committee and is on Second Reading in the House.

Funding for COLA for direct care workers in community service agencies (SB 1368/HB660) -- Employees in community-based agencies serving people with disabilities or others in need must depend on state funding. Thousands of these workers have joined the ranks of AFSCME in order to improve their low wage levels and inadequate benefits. We’ve made progress – but there’s still a long way to go. Last year, after vigorous grassroots lobbying by direct care workers, AFSCME succeeded in passing legislation for a 50 cent pay increase for community disability workers. But the previous governor vetoed that funding. This year it will be even harder to win funding given the state’s budget shortfalls—but AFSCME is determined to make this fight. That’s why the union is pushing for passage of SB1368, sponsored by Sen. Koehler, and HB661, sponsored by Rep. Froehlich, would require the inclusion of a 50 cent pay increase for community disability workers in the FY 10 budget. AFSCME Position: Support. Status: SB1368 is in Senate Appropriations I Committee; HB660 passed out of the Human Services Appropriations Committee and is on Second Reading the House.
Action Needed: Because of the very severe budget shortfall and the difficulty in getting increases in state funding for any purpose, it is critical that local unions representing direct care workers begin now to insist that their local state senators and state representatives fight for the inclusion of a pay increase for community disability workers in the FY10 budget.

Provide fairness for Corrections health care employees (SB1987/HB2375) – AFSCME-represented medical vendor employees in DOC and DJJ have made steady progress through their union toward achieving wage parity with state medical personnel in these departments. However, they still have to pay significantly more for their health coverage and do not have a defined benefit pension plan. AFSCME is pushing for passage of this legislation which would make employees of corrections medical vendors state employees and enable them to keep their union representation. AFSCME position: Support. Status: HB2375 passed out of the House Labor Committee and is on Second Reading in the House; SB1987 is in the Senate State Government Committee.
Action Needed: There is very strong opposition to this bill from IDOC, Wexford and HPL. It is essential that the medical vendor employees contact their state legislators and let them know that they want to become state employees and remain AFSCME members. Tell legislators to support HB 2375 and SB 1987. AFSCME local presidents should call Rep. Smith and Sen. Sullivan to thank them for sponsoring this legislation.

Restrict privatization of state services (SB1602/HB588) – Working with Sen. Harmon and Rep. Hannig, AFSCME has introduced SB1602 and HB588 which would establish strict accountability standards for any proposal to privatize services currently provided by state government. This legislation is based on legislation that the union previously enacted that restricted privatization in local school districts. AFSCME position: Support. Status: HB588 is in the House Rules Committee; SB1602 passed out of the Senate State Government Committee and is on Second Reading in the Senate.

Oppose legislation to restrict placement of inmates at Tamms CC (HB2633) – HB 2633, sponsored by Rep. Hamos, would restrict the reasons for which an inmate can be transferred to Tamms and make it more difficult for IDOC to move quickly to transfer a dangerous or disruptive inmate to that facility, which is currently the state’s “super-maximum” facility to house particularly dangerous inmates. AFSCME Position: Oppose. Status: Passed out of Committee and is on Second Reading in the House.
Action Needed: IDOC local union presidents should contact their state senators and representatives to explain the important role that Tamms plays as a safety valve in the system and explain the reasons why inmates are transferred to Tamms—giving specific examples if possible.

Establish MRSA protections in law (SB105/HB185) – Since MRSA infections first emerged as a serious health threat, AFSCME has led a high-pressure effort to force employers to institute appropriate protocols to prevent the occurrence of such infections. Council 31 is supporting this legislation to make sure that all state agencies have appropriate employee protections in place to prevent the spread of MRSA. SB 105 is sponsored by Sen. Radogno; HB 185 is sponsored by Rep. Bellock. AFSCME Position: Support. Status: HB185 passed out of committee and is on Second Reading in the House; SB105 passed out of committee and is on Second Reading in the Senate.
Action Needed: If any of your members have contracted MRSA infections at work, call your legislators to urge them to support this legislation and let them know that MRSA is still a problem at your worksite.

Improve health care quality and access/Support nurse staffing ratios (SB224/HB485) --
The American health care system is in crisis. The only real solution is a national program of universal health care—and Council 31 is participating in the AFL-CIO’s nationwide campaign to press for the development and enactment of major health care reform to meet that goal. At the same time, we will seek to address problems that can be tackled at the state level.
To that end, AFSCME is leading a statewide coalition that is seeking to enact legislation to establish required nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in Illinois hospitals and to provide for nurse input into staffing plans. SB2224 and HB485 are being held in committee pending negotiations with the Illinois Hospital Association, which is fiercely opposing this measure.

Oppose efforts to reduce care and services for individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities -- There is growing pressure to close or downsize state-operated centers for persons with mental illness and developmental disabilities. In addition, legislation has been introduced that would change the way disability services are funded, resulting in the drastic downsizing of all Intermediate Care Facilities, both state-operated centers and community-based disability agencies. Council 31 will continue to support a comprehensive array of services for people with mental illness and developmental disabilities and to oppose efforts to fund one type of service by cutting another.
There are a number of bills that have been introduced that would negatively impact state-operated mental health and developmental centers. None of these measures appears to have any traction at this point. Council 31 is monitoring them closely and will sound the alarm if they begin to move through the legislative process.

Restore and expand union rights (HB2445) -- Council 31 is working with the Illinois AFL-CIO to pass this omnibus reform of the Illinois public sector labor relations law in order to address key problems that have arisen, such as lengthy delays in adjudicating Unfair Labor Practice charges. AFSCME Position: Support. Status: Passed out of the Labor Committee and is on Second Reading in the House.

Bring greater equity to the Unemployment Insurance program (HB2555 and SB1350) -- AFSCME is seeking to pass legislation (HB2555, sponsored by Rep. Walker) that would expand UI benefits to those school district and university employees who are laid off in the summer months. However school districts and universities are vigorously opposing this measure because of the costs involved. In addition, Council 31 is seeking to enact legislation (SB1350, sponsored by Sen. Forby) that would extend the time period for cut-off of UI benefits when an employer has locked out its employees. AFSCME Position: Support. Status: HB2555 is in the House Rules Committee; SB1350 passed out of the Labor Committee and is on Second Reading in the Senate.

Establish fair mileage reimbursement rules (HB 480) – AFSCME has been pressing for several years now to bring state mileage reimbursement regulations in line with federal protocols which are fairer to employees. HB480, sponsored by Rep. Boland, would accomplish that goal.
AFSCME Position: Support. Status: Passed out of the House; awaiting committee assignment in the Senate.

Dozens of bills impact AFSCME members – There are literally dozens of other bills that the AFSCME lobbying team is working to support or defeat that would affect AFSCME members—in some cases as few as a dozen employees. Whatever the number of employees involved, if a bill could hurt or help them—and if it has a chance of moving forward in the General Assembly—Council 31 lobbyists are hard at work to make sure that the interests of union members are protected and advanced. If any of these bills emerge as a real threat to members’ well-being or as potential benefits to members, the local unions that are impacted will be notified so that they can assist in the lobbying effort.