North Cook News

Candidate Dan Gott (R-Des Plaines) recently threw his support behind Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner in the ongoing contract battle with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, saying the group “must be living in a fantasy world” when it comes to their contract demands.

As the negotiations between the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the state continues to stalemate, Gott continues to express his concerns over Illinois taxpayers who will be left holding the bag when it comes to paying for AFSCME contract perks.

“The AFSCME must be living in a fantasy world to think they are in a strong position to negotiate with Gov. Rauner for excessive and expensive perks,” Gott recently told the North Cook News.

“It’s totally unfair for taxpayers to continue footing the bill. Illinois families and individuals are suffering while they struggle to pay bills,” said Gott.

Gott said any agreement that is reached between the AFSCME and the state needs to take into account Illinois’ current financial predicament.

“I would like to see AFSCME reach a ratified collective bargaining agreement that includes provisions addressing the state’s ongoing financial crisis, increasing 37.5 hour workweek to 40 hours including a four-year temporary wage freeze, implementation of merit pay for conscientious workers, and changes to the state-provided health insurance program,” said Gott.

“This is more than fair considering we are living in hard economic times, everyone needs to share the pain during the recovery process,” Gott said.

Gott, who has been campaigning hard over the past several months, even going door to door talking with voters, has made fighting for the taxpayers of Illinois, as well as bringing change to state government a central theme of his campaign.

“It’s time to bring Illinois out of the darkness and into the light,” Gott told voters during a recent campaign speech in Park Ridge.

The AFSCME is the largest government-worker union for the state of Illinois and represents almost 35,000 employees.