The Illinois
Department of Transportation has never played by the same rules as everyone
else.
Despite talks
of budget cuts, economic recession, and laying off more than 1,900 state
workers in Illinois, its transportation department has hired 16 new
employees--supervisors--that critics claim are not needed.
The new jobs,
which are supervisory in nature will, according to some critics, duplicate work
already being done by field supervisors who recently joined a union.
The move creates
an entire new administrative layer, with each earning about $100,000 annually,
far more and in some cases double that of the former supervisors.
IDOT denies
the new jobs have any connection to the unionization of employees, despite the
announcement coming just weeks after the previous workers joined the Operating
Engineers Local 150.
Speaking of
unneeded new IDOT jobs, IDOT has also hired a new project coordinator for the
long-dormant South Suburban Airport.
On Sept. 12,
IDOT announced the hiring of William M. Viste, as project coordinator for the
South Suburban Airport. The state project has languished since 1985 when it
brought to life an idea first considered in the late 1960's not long after
O'Hare International airport opened for business.
According to
the South Suburban Airport website, Viste will be charged with "ensuring
the technical accuracy of the project's reports and submittals, provide status
oversight for the various facets of this complex project, and respond to
technical questions and comments from federal, state, and local agencies,
communities, landowners, and other stakeholders."