How Will Quinn Defend His Union Fight?

Fresh off a trip to Israel, Governor Pat Quinn Monday will hold a press conference to discuss investments in new technology throughout the state.

But the question on everyone's mind doesn't have to do with technology, but with labor unions.  The AFSCME saga moved forward during his absence when an arbitrator determined that the state must pay raises due to thousands of union employees who work for the state. 

Quinn’s team said that they would appeal the decision. On Friday a Cook County Circuit Court Judge put a hold on the raises ordered to be paid because he wanted to hear arguments from both the unions and the government.

When Quinn first denied the raises he placed blame on state legislators saying, “The General Assembly did not appropriate the money, the millions of dollars to pay the raises.”

Despite protests across the state, Quinn stuck to his talking points and continued to defend the decision not to grant the 2% raises, which would cost the state $75 million.

A spokesman for Quinn said, “The fiscal year 2012 budget does not provide the money for pay raises.”

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