Ill. union pickets over Quinn canceling raises

CHICAGO — The fight over Gov. Pat Quinn's decision to cancel raises for thousands of public employees hit the streets Tuesday, with state workers across Illinois walking picket lines, chanting and hoisting signs.

In Chicago, about 100 workers marched in the blazing sun in front of a downtown state office building across from Quinn's office, imploring him to honor their contract with a chant of "It's disgusting, union busting."

About three dozen workers marched in Springfield in front of two state office buildings on a day when the heat index hit 111 degrees.

"Public employees have become easy targets for legislators who don't seem to want to do their job," said Richard Turner, an energy and natural resources specialist for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. "With the huge tax increase, they should be able to honor their commitment."

Workers are upset over Quinn's decision to deny $75 million in raises to 30,000 workers in 14 state agencies to help Illinois cope with its budget crisis, despite a recent hefty increase in the state income tax.

Quinn continued to defend his actions Tuesday, saying he had no choice because the General Assembly didn't appropriate money for the raises.

"Unless the General Assembly changes its mind and appropriates more money for their raises, there's no money to pay the raises and it's as simple as that. So if they're going to be focusing on anything, I think they should focus on the legislative process," Quinn said at an event earlier Tuesday in Chicago.

Quinn's insistence that lawmakers didn't set aside money in the budget to pay the raises is not entirely accurate. Lawmakers cut spending for salaries despite the scheduled raises, but budgets don't distinguish between regular salaries and raises. It's the governor's decision how to spend the money lawmakers give him for employees.

The informational pickets by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees stretched from downtown Chicago and Champaign to Springfield and southern Illinois at 75 work sites.

AFSCME has sued over the denial of the raises, saying Quinn is violating the workers' contact. The union also has sought a ruling from an arbitrator.