SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner has vetoed legislation that would have blocked public-employee strikes and management lockouts of those workers.
Rauner said in a release Wednesday he vetoed the bill in part because it was based on what he called the false premise that he has been unreasonable in negotiating with state workers and wants to lock them out.
The governor also complained about the measure’s plan to resolve contract-negotiation impasses with binding arbitration.
The legislation was backed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and aimed at what the union and Democrats have called Rauner’s anti-union rhetoric.
In contract negotiations, Rauner has demanded deep concessions from state employees represented by AFSCME.
The union and Rauner earlier Wednesday agreed to a two-month contract extension as they negotiate.