SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office has revised its plan to change state hiring to allay opponents’ concerns.
Unions aren’t satisfied.
The initiative focuses on state jobs that a governor may give to anyone because he needs loyalty or confidence. Other jobs must be filled on merit.
The plan is in answer to a federal court’s findings on improper hiring in the Illinois Department of Transportation under past Democratic governors.
The Republican Rauner’s revisions are meant to better define what types of jobs should be exempt from hiring rules — without removing union or other protection from firing without cause.
AFL-CIO spokesman Bill Looby says unions support ending political influence in hiring but say the Rauner legislation targets collective-bargaining rights.