Pass the back pay supplemental!

When the AFSCME State Bargaining Committee struck a tentative agreement on a new state contract, it came with a condition – that the Quinn Administration would work with the union to pass a supplemental appropriation providing for payment of all back wages owed to state employees under the previous union contract.

Legislation to do that has now been introduced in the General Assembly. HB 212 House Amendment 2 would appropriate $140 million to provide for back wages owed to employees of the Human Rights Commission and the departments of Corrections, Human Services, Juvenile Justice, Natural Resources and Public Health.

Passage of this bill is critical, both to provide justice to the nearly 30,000 employees in the affected agencies and to protect the integrity of the collective bargaining process in Illinois.

Call your state representatives today: You can reach them toll-free at (888) 912-5959 or use our click-to-call tool. Tell them: State employees have waited nearly two years for pay increases owed under the previous union contract. I urge you to support HB 212, House Amendment 2 to pay the wages owed.

Your action is critical: Make sure that legislators understand that state workers are on the frontlines every day providing vital services and deserve to be treated fairly.

An independent arbitrator and circuit court judge have ruled that the wages are owed. Lawmakers should act now.

The Quinn administration agrees as well and has already begun to disperse some funds held in escrow that are owed to state employees. However, the remaining wages owed cannot be paid until this measure is passed.

Call now: You can reach lawmakers toll-free at (888) 912-5959 or by using our click-to-call tool.