Community Support Systems Fights Back Against State Rest Area Proposals

(COMMUNITY SUPPORT SYSTEMS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANDY KISTLER AT FRIDAY AFTERNOON'S PRESS CONFERENCE)

Community Support Systems Executive Director Andy Kistler is calling on citizens to contact their legislators to keep the state's rest areas open and CSS workers employed.

Kistler called a press conference Friday afternoon after the latest developments.

An Illinois Department of Transportation representative notified Kistler on Wednesday morning that all of the state's rest areas would be closed if a budget agreement is not reached by July 1, the start of the state's fiscal year.

Kistler said he was later notified that the rest areas would remain open, but instead of utilizing CSS' contracted workforce to maintain the rest areas, IDOT employees would be used and would be paid overtime to do the work.

Fast forward to Friday morning, when Kistler received a proposal that if CSS paid the utilities to keep the rest areas open, the CSS employees could continue working and be paid.

As Kistler told those gathered for the press conference, "that's where things ended."

Kistler said his employees, 17 client employees and seven fulltime staff members, have maintained the rest areas for over 30 years, and have earned many awards and commendations for their performance and quality standards. He said there have been episodes where IDOT quality assurance personnel have worn white gloves to test for dust or dirt on the air vents in the rest area restrooms. Danny Tague is a workforce supervsior at the rest areas for Community Support Systems. Tague said, "the workers take pride in their jobs, others won't have the same pride in their work."

Kistler also noted that CSS has received all payments for the fiscal year ending June 30, so why the end of payments as of July 1 if they've been doing their jobs?

He also noted that those unable to work could apply for unemployment, but asked, "how does that help" when it comes to the state's budget woes? He also doesn't understand how paying one group of state employees overtime to maintain the rest areas is a better solution than meeting their contractural obligations to pay CSS to do the work.

By the way, $8.48/hour is the most that a CSS client employee can be paid for maintaining the rest areas.

Kistler asked that area residents contact their legislators to see that the matter of a budget is addressed and quickly. When one of his client employees asked him during the press conference what he would be doing about the situation, Kistler said, "we're going to be loud". He said, "we can't allow the budget to be balanced on the backs of the most vulnerable."

Kistler said his staff and employees have done their jobs, now it's time for members of the General Assembly to do theirs.