Our strength is in our solidarity

When the members of AFSCME Local 900 who work for Champaign County voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike in May, it was not an empty gesture. They knew the pressures they would face, the sacrifices they would have to make. 

They also knew beyond any doubt that they deserved much better than the meager terms the county had held to over many months at the bargaining table.  

As the strike date approached, the unity and determination of Local 900 members did not falter. No doubt they were buoyed by members of other locals from throughout the state who travelled to Champaign to rally with them or sent offers of assistance. And, in turn, that network of AFSCME members across Illinois was inspired by the courage and determination of the Local 900 members.

In the end, a tentative agreement was reached on the night before the strike was set to begin—an agreement that represented genuine progress for the entire bargaining unit and that was resoundingly ratified in a matter of days.

There is much that we can learn from this battle in America’s heartland. We’re in a time when our country’s leaders are seeking to sow division and animosity—and to shift wealth from working people who are struggling to get by to the billionaires who already have more money than they can ever possibly spend.  

Perhaps the most valuable of those lessons is the importance of solidarity—of standing together, of sticking up for each other, of refusing to back down in the face of threats—whether it be from a band of local politicians or the national politicians leading an assault on the progress we’ve fought so hard for over so many decades.  

I found that spirit of solidarity powerfully represented in the speech that Kim Pope, president of AFSCME Local 981 at Eastern Illinois University, made when she came to speak at a rally in support of the Champaign County employees as they prepared to strike. I wanted to share her words with all of you at this critical time:

Our locals might be different when it comes to the workplace and what we do. Some of us are at universities, state and local government offices, direct care facilities, corrections facilities, museums, libraries, and much more. But when it comes to contract negotiations, we have all experienced the same frustrations, the same obstacles, and we’ve heard the same tired excuses. 

“We just don’t have the money.”
“There’s just not room in the budget this year.”
“We appreciate you, but our hands are tied.”

We all know the truth though, right? They have the money, they just don’t want to spend it on you. And if they truly “appreciated you,” then they would prove it by giving you a fair contract right now.

Let’s be clear. What’s happening here in Champaign County is management’s failure. Their failure to lead effectively and plan responsibly is not the fault of the workers, and it certainly is not an excuse to put their livelihood on the line. At EIU, we know how it feels to be treated like a number on a spreadsheet. And when you’re constantly fed those pitiful excuses, how can you not feel that way? But we are not numbers—we’re people with families to support and bills to pay. We are parents, caregivers, neighbors, community members. We are human beings, and we deserve to be treated with respect, and not like line items on a budget.

The AFSCME workers of Champaign County do work that is crucial to the functioning and safety of this community. They show up everyday, doing the real work to keep the many areas of this county running smoothly. And for the board to push them to the brink of a strike is not just shameful and disrespectful—it’s downright dangerous. It puts this entire community at risk. And I hope the community understands that you’re not asking for anything unreasonable. You’re asking for basic fairness: liveable wages, affordable and decent health care, and for dignity and respect on the job. 

Last week, I was in town for a council meeting and our Executive Director, Roberta Lynch, said something that stuck with me. She said, “We are a fighting union. And we do not back down from a fight.” My brothers, sisters, and siblings of Champaign County, I want you to remember that. When you’re reporting to work and you’re at the bargaining table, and you’re frustrated, and you’re tired, and you’re hearing those weak excuses. Remember that we are a fighting union. Remember that we do not back down. Remember that you are not in this alone.

Because we are your AFSCME family. 
And we stand with you.
We believe in you. 
We are in this fight with you, and when we fight, we win!