Step pay increases for thousands of state workers are a step closer to being paid out. The state Labor Relations Board has rejected a request from the Rauner administration to send the pay dispute to an administrative law judge for another hearing.
That decision means AFSCME can petition for a final order to implement the raises. The money has been on hold as contract talks between the state and the union have stalled, but various rulings say the workers are entitled to the raises under the terms of the old contract… which remain in effect until a new agreement is reached.