Union leaders say Rauner agenda will hurt middle class

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Public-employee union leaders say Gov. Bruce Rauner's agenda will hurt the middle class and Illinois' economy.

Rauner proposed measures to weaken government unions during his State of the State speech Wednesday. He says local government employees should be free to choose whether to join a union and that state public-worker unions should be banned from making campaign contributions.

Dan Montgomery is president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. He says Rauner's proposals won't make Illinois more competitive. Montgomery also says teachers have endured plenty of sacrifice and "it's time for corporations and the very wealthy to pitch in."

Roberta Lynch is president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31.

She says Rauner's proposed ban on campaign contributions would prohibit workers from participating in democracy.