By The Associated Press

Ill. curb on state workforce union growth stalled

SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois Senate measure to curb union growth among state employees has stalled.

The Senate approved excluding some workers from joining collective-bargaining units.

But Sen. Don Harmon used a technical procedure to keep it from going to a supportive Gov. Pat Quinn.

The Oak Park Democrat says he wants one more chance to get employee unions and the Democratic governor to negotiate a deal.

Senate President John Cullerton is the sponsor. The Chicago Democrat says 97 percent of the workforce is unionized.

An Associated Press analysis showed 10,000 state workers joined unions from 2003 to 2011 – four times the number in the previous eight years.

Democrats blame mistreatment of thousands of middle managers by unpopular former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

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The bill is HB1556.

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