Concerned by the Rauner administration’s failure to reach a contract agreement with Illinois’ largest government-employee union, the Illinois Senate voted to override the governor’s veto of legislation that would mandate arbitration and prohibit strikes and lockouts if an agreement can’t be reached.

“The state needs a contract with its employees,” said Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), the measure’s sponsor. “Honestly, it doesn’t seem like the governor’s office is making much progress. Our last contract expired more than a month ago and the two sides still seem miles apart.”

The legislation, Senate Bill 1229, establishes a process in which the state and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) may be required to submit to binding interest arbitration if the two sides can’t reach an agreement. It also specifically prohibits strikes and lockouts once the arbitration process begins. A similar model is already successfully used for decades during contract negotiations for the state police and prison guards, as well as local police and firefighters.

The first step in the process is mediation. If mediation is not successful, either party can request binding interest arbitration. The state and AFSCME would also have the option to continue the mediation process with the explicit agreement of both groups.

“We don’t need a work stoppage or a government shutdown,” Harmon said. “Illinois taxpayers deserve better. We need to encourage both sides to be reasonable and compromise.”

The measure now goes to the House, where Representative Mike Smiddy (D-Port Byron) has 15 days to call the measure for a veto override vote before the governor’s veto becomes permanent. To override the governor’s veto would take 71 votes in the House.