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February 12, 2015

Illinois Gov. Targets Public Sector Unions with Exec Order on Fees 
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Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner of Illinois has launched a new effort to
undermine the state's public sector unions. Rauner issued an executive
order this week that bars unions from requiring all state workers to pay
fees equivalent to union dues. The measure applies to around 6,500
Illinois public workers who pay fees to unions but are not members.
Around 42,000 state employees are unionized. Union leaders have argued
the "fair share" fees are justified because nonmembers still benefit
from collective bargaining. Rauner, a former private equity manager, is
the latest Midwestern Republican governor to challenge public sector
employees following similar measures in Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan.
In response, Illinois labor leader Roberta Lynch called the order a
"blatantly illegal abuse of power … that can't hide [Rauner's] real
agenda: silencing working people and their unions who stand up for the
middle class."

 

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