SPRINGFIELD -- About 5,000 members of Illinois' largest public-service union protested in the capital city Monday, demanding a "fair" union contract from Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration.

Leaders from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents an affected 35,000 Illinois state workers, say the governor's office is pushing for an increase in health care and pension costs to be paid by employees.

Though the governor's office won't say what it's willing to give in the negotiated union contract with state employees like prison guards, veterans home nurses and case workers, union representatives say the state can do better.

"We have all kinds of mandatory overtime at East Moline Correctional Center," said Steve Slocum, a correctional officer and union local president representing 240 members. "We didn't have it before. People are getting burned out."

He said the facility holds 1,140 inmates, although its capacity is 688.

The latest proposal from the state would eliminate any income increase after adding in new health care and pension costs, said Henry Bayer, AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director. That move would financially disable state employees who, like other Illinois residents, fight an escalating cost of living.

The contracts come at a time when the state is trying to tighten its belt due to an unbalanced state budget and long-term debt problem.

However, lawmakers are only a few steps away from accepting a raise that would kick in for the governor, statewide officials, legislators and judges.

"What they're trying to do is raise our health care costs up over the roof and trying to get us to pay more into retirement and basically not offer any pay raises," Solcum said. "Come do my job."

AFSCME leaders say the governor's administration is pushing for increases in the employee share paying for health care and pensions, though the governor's office said it wouldn't comment on the issues until both sides negotiate.

"We continue in good faith negotiations with AFSCME and while we understand their concerns, it would be irresponsible on our part to negotiate this contract through the media," said Kelley Quinn, the governor's spokeswoman.

Negotiators have been meeting since December in hopes of reaching an agreement before the labor contract expires on June 30.

"We know the state's in a bad situation," Slocum said. "We're not asking to become millionaires here. What we're asking for with the cost of living raises at the gas pumps and groceries and such, we would be able to make ends meet and be somewhat close to meeting that cost of living."