(MCT) — Gov. Pat Quinn once shared a cozy relationship with the state's largest employee union as its members mobilized to help him win office two years ago. Since then, he's canceled union raises, cut jobs and targeted retirement benefits with the state billions of dollars in debt.

But it's the latest skirmish between Quinn and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that may have the highest stakes. The two sides have been bargaining on a new contract covering 40,000 workers who do everything from care for the elderly to protect children from abuse. Talks have dragged on for nearly a year, the longest negotiations in about 30 years.