Gov. Bruce Rauner has rescinded his notice to lay off 124 unionized nurses at the Illinois Department of Corrections and move the jobs to a private contractor.
State Rep. Tim Butler of Springfield says it was he and six other Republicans who got the governor to return to the bargaining table.
“I think it’s best for those nurses in that situation that they continue to be state employees,” Butler said. "I mean that’s what we’re advocating for."
Butler did not answer questions about why those should remain state jobs. Democrats traditionally are major supporters of unions.
Rauner has talked about privatizing functions at all levels of government in Illinois, and that’s been a major sticking point in his negotiations with other unions.
The governor’s office has not yet confirmed it was rescinding the layoffs.
