Members of AFSCME Council 31 have a new labor deal with the State of Illinois, according to the union. 

Restoration of step-pay increases is one of the goals of two AFSCME locals engaged in contract negotiations with the University of Illinois.

Gov. Bruce Rauner has taken his confrontation with the state's largest public-employee union to the Supreme Court. The Republican announced Friday that his office has asked the high court to uphold a labor board ruling in his favor. That ruling last fall allowed Rauner to impose his preferred contract conditions on 38,000 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31.

Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) — the biggest labor union representing Illinois state workers — have taken a big step toward a possible strike.
 
The state council of AFSMCE reported Thursday that union members voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike.

As a state budget budget impasse continues, a new rule pending before Illinois lawmakers would pave the way for state colleges and universities to force employees to take up to three weeks off without pay.  The group representing civil service workers has proposed the measure.