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17 state employee contracts inked

Gov. Rauner's administration continues to work collaboratively with Illinois labor unions, with the administration announcing that another set of new collective bargaining agreements have been reached with several unions, according to Sen David Luechtefeld (R-58th Distrct) who represents the Perry County area.

The Rauner Administration announced this week that new four-year collective bargaining agreements have been reached with a number of labor unions, including Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 1 Chicago, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Mid-Central Illinois Regional Council of Carpenters, and several others.

Emphasizing the Administration's willingness to work with labor, Gov. Rauner has now negotiated new collective bargaining contracts with 17 different bargaining units, representing more than 5,000 state employees.

Terms of the most recent agreements include:

· The state will expand the existing group health insurance program by offering employees a variety of new options.

· A new performance incentive program to reward employees with bonuses for cost-saving measures and meeting or exceeding performance standards.

· A new, collaborative managed competition program that allows management and the unions to work together to provide low-cost alternatives to outsourcing.

· A reduction in the payout for accumulated unused vacation from 75 to 45 days for employees hired after Jan. 1, 2016.

· Continuation of a 40-hour work week with overtime earned after 40 hours.

· A program to enable the State of Illinois to address minority underutilization in state government.

· Increased training and certification opportunities for employees.

· Continuation of the prevailing rate system administered by the Illinois Department of Labor.