An in depth look at how AFSCME gets its bargaining power. Illinois state workers are the highest-paid state workers in the nation when adjusted for cost of living. AFSCME workers receive platinum-level health care at low cost, and most get free health insurance at retirement. And then there are AFSCME perks – such as lax disciplinary procedures (no repercussions when a worker has 10 unauthorized absences) and overtime pay starting at 37.5 hours – that are unlike anything offered in the private sector.

Rauner and the four legislative leaders are scheduled to meet Tuesday morning, a day after Republican leaders blasted House Speaker Michael Madigan for skipping a Monday get-together.

Cuz they pay up.

The Department of Labor estimates that 193,930 workers in Illinois would be affected by the new threshold. Nearly 9,800 salaried state employees could be eligible for overtime. Illinois State University said it is expecting up to $2.2 million in new annual costs to get the pay of approximately 275 eligible employees into compliance. University of Illinois said it plans to spend up to $3 million on employee raises this month to get its workers’ pay into compliance. But Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is not participating in the lawsuit.