A major chunk of government deficits were derived from outstanding pension obligations; but the latest attempts to rethink Illinois’ pension system stalled. Both unions and politicians put up roadblocks to proposed legislation. Meanwhile, the fight over a longer school day between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union came to a pause last week. The CTU will not pursue an injunction against the district and in turn, CPS will not expand its Longer School Day Pioneer Program this year. At every level of government, battles over unionized labor can be found. Eight Forty-Eight checked in with labor expert Bob Bruno to find out what it all meant. Bruno is a labor and employment relations professor at the University of Illinois.

Music Button: Tommy Guerrero, “The Under Dog”, from the album From the Soil to the Soul, (TVT)