SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. Bruce Rauner stepped up his campaign against government employee unions by eliminating so-called “fair share” dues paid by workers who don’t join a union.

The Republican said Monday he has signed an executive order erasing what he says is a “critical cog in the corrupt bargain crushing taxpayers.” He says forcing non-union employees to pay union dues requires them to fund political activity they don’t agree with.

He says he took action after a U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last year that found the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act violated the First Amendment by mandating involuntary union dues.

Rauner has called for ending political contributions by unions.

Rauner’s executive order has no effect on those who wish to remain in unions.

Reaction from the unions has been succinct and severe.

SEIU Cocal 73 president Christine Boardman said, “Governor Rauner`s Executive Order today showed his true colors: a man whose top priority is to ruin the lives of working families in Illinois.”

AFSCME Council 31 executive director Roberta Lynch said in part, “Bruce Rauner`s scheme to strip the rights of state workers and weaken their unions by executive order is a blatantly illegal abuse of power.”