AFSCME, governor reach temporary agreement to avert strike

From Illinois Business Journal news services

SPRINGFIELD – The state’s biggest worker union agreed on a temporary truce on contract talks with state government today.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 31 issued this joint state-union statement late this afternoon:

“Today, AFSCME Council 31 and the Governor’s Office reached an agreement that precludes the possibility of a strike or lockout for a one-month period after the state’s collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Council 31 expires on June 30. This agreement preserves all legal and contractual rights of the parties as of the contract expiration date. More importantly, it allows both sides to continue to negotiate during the month of July without the threat of disruption to important public services.”

The joint statement was from Jason Barclay, general counsel to the governor, and from Mike Newman, deputy director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 31.