The Rauner Administration announced Tuesday that it has launched ajob website as part of AFSCME strike preparation.
Tens of thousands of Illinois government workers voted in favor of authorizing a strike if contract talks don't move forward.
AFSCME Executive Director Roberta Lynch says the vote empowers the union's executive board to call a strike "if no other path forward can be found."
According to a news release from the Governor’s office:
"We genuinely hope AFSCME leadership will choose not to strike against taxpayers and work with us on implementing common-sense proposals like overtime after 40 hours, not 37.5,” Rauner General Counsel Dennis Murashko said. “However, we must be prepared to continue government operations and provide services that citizens deserve and expect,” Murashko said.
The release says the state receives tens of thousands of applications each year from Illinois residents interested in state government. It says the job portal is part of the Rauner Administration’s attempt to modernize the state’s technology services to better serve taxpayers, as well as to prepare for a possible strike against taxpayers by AFSCME.
Individuals would be hired on a temporary basis in response to a strike, the State would then begin taking the steps necessary to fill positions permanently.
