State workers demonstrate for pay hikes

SPRINGFIELD | Unionized state workers staged a protest outside of Gov. Pat Quinn's office Thursday over the Chicago Democrat's failure to pay wage hikes contained in their current contract.

Armed with placards that read, "Gov. Quinn: Respect Worker Rights," an estimated 250 workers from around the state said the governor is being disingenuous when he criticizes anti-labor union policies being enacted in Indiana and Wisconsin at the same time he refuses to honor a collective bargaining agreement he helped put in place.

"It's symptomatic of what's happening across the country," said Chris Hooser, of Decatur, a staff representative with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. "The hypocrisy runs deep."

Quinn, who was not at the Capitol on Thursday, last year imposed a pay freeze on 30,000 state workers who staff state prisons, oversee centers for developmentally disabled residents and help operate state parks and historic sites.

He said the General Assembly didn't provide him enough money for raises at 14 different state agencies.

Employees were supposed to receive a 4 percent salary bump July 1, 2011, and a 1.25 percent increase on Jan. 1. The union, however, agreed to defer some of that money until Feb. 1 in order to help Quinn manage the state budget during tough financial times.

Since that agreement was reached, however, workers have seen no increases.

"We believe the governor has an obligation to keep his word," said AFSCME Executive Director Henry Bayer. "This governor has no respect for his front-line employees."

Quinn spokeswoman Annie Thompson had little to say about the protest, but said a legal fight over the raises is under way.

"The litigation is ongoing," Thompson said, pointing to court cases in both federal and circuit court.

With the current contract set to expire July 1, negotiators have begun meeting to discuss a new agreement. Bayer said talks about salary increases in the next contract have not yet begun.

"These state workers made concessions in the middle of the contract," Hooser said. "They deferred their pay and took voluntary furloughs. They get it that the state is having a tough time. These are smart people.

"But, it is hypocritical of Quinn to then come out and give $300 million in tax breaks to big businesses like the Chicago Mercantile Exchange."