Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is making amends for past conflicts with union groups by inviting major labor leaders in the city to discuss economic strategies for resolving its $30 billion pension crisis.
Emanuel alienated labor supporters at the beginning of his mayoral career by seeking legislation to limit teachers’ ability to strike in 2011. In addition, he cut and privatized numerous public sector jobs, causing outrage from city labor groups.
He won a close runoff against union favorite Jesus G. Garcia in April. Emanuel said he plans to use the meeting Wednesday as an opportunity to gain trust and include unions in the discussion.
"This is all part of the process. I’ve always had an open dialogue with labor leaders. …You can’t ask people to come forward with ideas if you’re not willing to go sit at a table," Emanuel told the Chicago Sun-Times. "Jorge Ramirez, the Chicago Federation of Labor president, and I regularly talk. And I said I wanted to, at the right time, talk about what we’re gonna be doing to meet all of our obligations–both in the pensions, the budget, and economic development."
On Tuesday, the mayor was asked whether he planned to implement further cost-cutting work-rule changes.
"You’re framing this the wrong way," Emanuel told reporters. "I’m coming to say, ‘What ideas do you have?’ I have ideas. But we both have an interest in solving this in the same way that we worked through all of the pension issues. I’ve always said, ‘What ideas do you have? You want to talk about investment? What ideas do you have?’ From day one, if you’re open to making changes, you have a seat at the table. This is one more table we’re sitting at to work through ideas."
The Illinois General Assembly has flipped the hourglass on Chicago taxpayers, mandating a $550 million payment by December to level the fire and police pension funds.
Emanuel’s proposed solution is a city casino that would generate necessary revenue without raising property taxes. Some critics said they think the casino could become a handout to labor supporters, such as the hotel union UNITE HERE, one of the few groups to endorse him in his runoff.
"I will play a productive role and constructive role if required," Emanuel said. "I didn’t ask anybody to come in and resolve that for me. That’s the job of being a mayor: setting a context and an environment and an atmosphere where you can be productive in meeting the needs of the people of Chicago to both grow the economy and grow jobs," he said.