AFSCME, other unions play role in Pritzker transition

Incoming Gov. JB Pritzker has appointed leaders of AFSCME and other unions to key committees advising his transition team, signaling the end of Rauner-era attacks on workers’ rights and giving the labor movement an important seat at the table in the new administration.

AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch was appointed to the Healthy Children and Families committee that will help set policy priorities for DHS and DCFS as well as city and county health departments and community-based non-profits that receive state funding.

Deputy Director Mike Newman (pictured with Lt. Gov.-Elect Juliana Stratton and Gov.-Elect Pritzker) was asked to serve on the Restorative Justice and Safe Communities committee that will make recommendations on policies related to IDOC, DJJ and state police as well as county courts, jails, sheriffs, probation and more.

"There are literally tens of thousands of AFSCME members who keep our prisons safe, care for people with disabilities, provide mental health treatment, protect kids from abuse and neglect and more," Lynch said. "Frontline employees know better than anyone what works and what doesn’t in the real world, and on these committees AFSCME can share the perspective of members who do the work every day about the challenges we face."

Many other union leaders and allies are serving on these and other Pritzker transition committees. A partial list of just some of them includes:

• AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan (overall transition co-chair)
• IEA President Kathy Griffin (Educational Success committee)
• IFT President Dan Montgomery (Budget and Innovation committee) and Vice Presidents John Miller and Jane Russell (Educational Success)
• Fire Fighters President Pat Devaney (Budget and Innovation)
• Police Benevolent & Protective Association of Illinois Director Sean Smoot (Restorative Justice and Safe Communities)
• SEIU Healthcare President Greg Kelley (Healthy Children and Families)
• IBEW Local 51 Business Manager John Johnson (Powering Illinois’ Future committee)
• Center for Tax and Budget Accountability Executive Director Ralph Martire (Budget and Innovation)
• Citizen Action/Illinois Co-Director William McNary (committee on Equality, Equity and Opportunity)
• Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans Executive Director Jeanne Cameron (Serving Illinois Heroes committee)
• Springfield and Central Illinois Trades and Labor President Jim Dixon (Serving Illinois Heroes committee)