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Even when examining a narrower window, when wages have been growing at their fastest pace in decades, the latest AFSCME contract will deliver larger pay raises during the next four years than what private sector residents have received during the last four years, 4.5% versus 4.2%.
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Audio and summary Why the Holdup Using Artificial Intelligence to Cut Illinois Government Costs? – Wirepoints
May 19, 2026
8 Comments
A largely unasked question is becoming glaring: Is Illinois doing all it should to use artificial intelligence to make government cost less and work better? So far, the evidence says no.
Note to readers from Mark Glennon re: Ukraine
May 6, 2026
4 Comments
Everybody needs a side hustle these days, and mine is Ukraine, where I am now.
Wirepoints’ Mark Glennon on AM560’s Morning Answer – Chicago’s struggling commercial real estate and more
April 22, 2026
5 Comments
Summary and audio linked here.
Audio and summary
So the average pay increase in Illinois was 6.4% over the last year but we are supposed to be outraged that state employees were given a 4% increase. Oh, the humanity.
Talk about a big nothing burger.
Thankless describes you well.
No need to be thankful or grateful. These employees negotiated a raise in exchange for the labor that they provide to the state and its residents. Employees don’t need to thankful anymore than you need to be thankful for the labor that they provided. A trade was completed involving labor and money and that is all that one should expect. Nothing more and nothing less.
My god, not this again
Right. It’s hard to believe that I still need to explain this basic premise. Some people just don’t understand this basic concept.
When govt employees are allowed to unionize, the result of robbery of the taxpayers
This should surprise no one. JB the Hutt has patonized many, but never managed a hot dog stand. The Hutt manages Illinois finances as only a Trust Fund Baby would, spending money he didn’t earn.
The demand for a federal bailout of Illinois can’t be off….
In comparing salary progression of State of IL AFSCME employees to private-sector employees, the article importantly leaves out prorated step increases the public employees get. Therefore, the salary progression gap between AFSCME and private-sector workers is considerably bigger. Once again, for the private-sector worker, that’s why your PT percent increases over time are higher than your salary percent increases.