Public school teachers and their unions may be next, as Gov. Bruce Rauner seeks to loosen requirements on collective bargaining dues.
The vast majority of state employees are unionized. But even those who choose not to join still have to pay what are known as "fair share" dues. That's basically a fee to cover the work unions do to benefit all workers, members and non-members alike. Things like wage hikes, and health care coverage that unions secure in negotiations. But Gov. Rauner alleges the money's also used for political advocacy.
He's trying to put an end to fair share requirement --- using an executive order, and a lawsuit that's still in court. Only state employees are affected, for now.
"I believe it should apply to teachers, and we'll deal with that later," Rauner told a group of Springfield residents this morning.
Rauner, a Republican, says teachers have approached him, saying that want to be exempt from paying the fees. A leader with one of Illinois' big teachers' unions says Rauner's only listening to a tiny minority of teachers, while he ignores the overwhelming majority who choose to be in a union.
