AFSCME calls on Rauner to say whether contract talks stalled

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The state's largest public employee union has asked Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration to flatly state whether contract talks are at a legal standstill.

A letter obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees claims that at a session last Friday, the union made concessions on wages and health care, but Rauner's team declared the year-old talks at impasse.

Administration officials later denied they had mentioned impasse but no further talks are set.

Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly says the letter is full of "falsehoods" and that AFSCME needs to "seriously bargain" or more talks are useless.

AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall says the union stands by the letter's description of events and wants Rauner's "commitment to compromise."

The last contract expired June 30.