Google says....
Quote Quoting Proposal could give state workers owed backpay
It's been five years since state workers have seen a raise, but a proposal could change that. It would allow the state to spend more than $63 million to return back pay.

State workers were denied those raises in 2011. In 2010, Governor Pat Quinn claimed the state did not have the revenue to return the dollars. That's even though the raises were promised and put into contracts.

The Supreme Court ruled early this week the state is off the hook for returning that pay, only if there's no appropriation. In 2008, a deal was made which called for more than 15% in raises to be paid over four years.

About 24,000 public service workers in state government are owed an average of $2,500 each, dating back to 2011.
According to that article the matter has been heard and the issue has been addressed by the State Supreme Court -- and the state does not have to pay unless and until there is an appropriation.