News Local/State

Gov. Rauner Vetoes Illinois Union Arbitration Bill

by The Associated Press, with Additional Reporting from Amanda Vinicky
 
In this Wednesday, May 11, 2016 photo, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner visits with students at New Berlin High School in New Berlin, Ill. Rauner's vision of a grand, two-year budget compromise with Illinois lawmakers is becoming more difficult to acc

In this Wednesday, May 11, 2016 photo, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner visits with students at New Berlin High School in New Berlin, Ill. Rauner's vision of a grand, two-year budget compromise with Illinois lawmakers is becoming more difficult to accomplish as the clock ticks down on this year's legislative session. Seth Perlman/Associated Press

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has vetoed legislation to allow an arbitrator to settle state-employee wages and working conditions if union negotiations stall.  In his veto message Monday, the Republican governor called House Bill 580 "dangerous,'' adding it would replace his bargaining power with a union-friendly arbitrator.   

Ruling Democrats can try to override the veto.
 
AFSCME's state council Executive Director Roberta Lynch says the bill is a compromise to avoid a strike.

Last week, the governor called the legislation "atrocious."

"I've been fairly clear that is a terrible piece of legislation, basically takes away my ability to do my job as governor, to represent and negotiation on behalf of taxpayers of the state," said Rauner.
 
The veto comes as the Rauner administration and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees present their case during a weeks-long hearing with the state's labor board as to whether negotiations have reached an impasse.

That determination would give Rauner the power to impose his own terms for a contract to replace the one that expired June 30.