To: The Illinois State House
Stop attack on middle class! Say no to support of House Joint Resolution 45.
The proposed amendment does not, in reality, "address appropriations for new wage increases associated with any and all collectively bargained contracts throughout state government for the fiscal year 2013 budget..." as it claims; But rather, the proposed amendment seeks to ratify punitive actions taken, arbitrarily withholding portions of the fiscal year 2013 budget, sufficient to satisfy contractual agreements, unfairly. But, only certain state agencies' personnel suffer, while others escape equal deprivation through no clear equitably objective calculus.
In the end it is simply another example of our governments policies failing to support and defend solid middle class jobs and wage-earners whose incomes are critical to economic recovery in the state, a far better more effective use of state funds and relief to families, than serial tax breaks for wealthy corporations.
In the end it is simply another example of our governments policies failing to support and defend solid middle class jobs and wage-earners whose incomes are critical to economic recovery in the state, a far better more effective use of state funds and relief to families, than serial tax breaks for wealthy corporations.
Why is this important?
HJR 45 also stands for the proposition that the General Assembly (and by extension any legislative body ie. county board/city council) can just set a cap on pay increases effectively gutting any union's ability to NEGOTIATE over wage increases. This basically guts the collective bargaining process whereby employees have the ability to obtain fare wages and benefits based on several factors including comparability.