A union representing home-care workers says a cap on care for people with disabilities violates the law. They've filed a charge against Governor Bruce Rauner's administration.
The charge filed by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Illinois says the state's Department of Human Services should have negotiated with the union over a limit on overtime hours that took effect this month. A federal rule took effect at the beginning of this year, which required time-and-a-half pay for home-care work over 40 hours.
The union represents about 24,000 workers who make 13 dollars an hour caring for disabled people in their homes, which they say saves on the higher cost of nursing-home care.
Union officials say about nine thousand people with disabilities are affected by the changes. They also say Rauner is trying to strip training and health insurance from caregivers by implementing the change.
A Human Services spokeswoman says the policy doesn't ban overtime but seeks justification for hours worked.
Editor's Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
