Pritzker hints at pay, pension plans for public workers

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is beginning to reveal some details about how he’ll handle payouts to state workers and Illinois’ woefully underwater pension systems.

In a news conference about putting further oversight on the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Pritzker was asked about how he would pay for the union wage increases he’d promised on his first full day on the job. He wasn’t clear on funding but did say that his administration would soon pay the back wage increases the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council 31 had fought former Gov. Bruce Rauner in court over.

“We’re living up to the court orders,” he said. “It wasn’t being done by prior administrations and that’s our job to follow the law.”

Rauner’s office maintained that the General Assembly hadn’t appropriated the funds for the step increases, which are raises based on time in the state position, not tied to merit. After unfavorable court decisions, the raises were ordered to be paid out last fall, with Rauner’s office saying they may not be able to pay for the increases valued near $400 million.

Read more: https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/pritzker-hints-at-pay-pension-plans-for-public-workers/article_bf4cedd0-1da5-11e9-a6b7-0be06c2c273a.html