Walsh Applauds Gov. Pritzker on Fulfilling Promises to State Workers

JOLIET, Ill. –State Rep. Larry Walsh, Jr., D- Elwood, praised Gov. J.B. Pritzker for delivering on promises made to state workers that had been denied by former Gov. Bruce Rauner.

“The people that will benefit the most from this will be honest working people and middle-class families,” Walsh said. “Governor Pritzker did the right thing by signing this executive order to pay state workers what they’re rightfully owed.”

In 2015, Rauner froze incremental pay increases for over 20,000 state employees. These gradual step increases were promised as part of a contract with the state workers’ union, AFSCME, but unilaterally blocked by the Rauner. A court order sided with the workers over Rauner, citing that the state was obligated to pay its workers what was negotiated, but the Rauner administration did not comply. Walsh, a life-long union member, is glad to see steps being taken to correct the string of broken promises made by Rauner to middle-class workers.

“I’ve been saying from the very beginning that these promises were made and we had to keep them,” Walsh said. “Illinois has its fair share of problems that need to be addressed, but by refusing to honor the terms of the contract that was made, former Governor Bruce Rauner hurt working families and wasted taxpayer dollars on an unnecessary legal battle.”