Sangamon Sun

“Sign the petition to support the fair contract offered to AFSCME by the state,” states a recent online plea for union workers to collect their due even as the large AFSCME maintains its “outrageous” demands.

In its current promotion to bring awareness to public employees who belong to government unions and fight for their rights, Chicago-based fixIllinois explains that despite the state presenting what the organization perceives as a fair contract to AFSCME members — and the fact that close to 20 additional unions previously accepted similar contracts — the AFSCME leaders refuse its terms.

“If the AFSCME union bosses get their way, our taxes will increase and funding for education, social services and repairs to our infrastructure will decrease,” fixIllinois stated, asking constituents to share the information with others.

The organization said that state employees are generously compensated and rank among the nation’s highest-paid state employees, earning an average of $66,000 per year plus “Cadillac-level” benefits.

The problem, fixIllinois stated, is not just that taxpayers are picking up too large a proportion of the tab — alleging that 80 percent of cost coverage comes from constituents — but that, in addition, AFSCME now insists on more wage increases with no stricter demands on workers themselves.

The state of Illinois countered by proposing a wage freeze that allows staffers to maintain current salary levels; redefine overtime to start at 40 hours rather than 37.5; and to require more health care coverage from the employees themselves.

“What can you do?” queried fixIllinois. “Click here to sign the petition to let your state representatives know you can't afford AFSCME's outrageous demands and you believe AFSCME should accept the fair contract being offered by the state.”