All In: 24th Biennial Council 31 Convention charts our course forward

Some 500 delegates, along with alternates and guests, gathered in Springfield for Council 31's 24th Biennial Convention over the weekend of October 16-18.

The theme of the convention was “All In”, and over those days, delegates made clear that when it comes to the fight for fairness and justice at work, they are ready to step up and give their all.

Watch the All In video that debuted at the convention:  

Special Guests

The convention featured a number of special guests who helped to inspire and energize delegates. 

International Union President Lee Saunders gave a rousing speech that emphasized the importance of unity at a time when public sector workers are under unrelenting threats.

State Senator Robert Peters attended to accept our union’s Community Support Award for his unwavering dedication to supporting the rights of workers seeking to form unions, and for promoting in the Illinois General Assembly that supports public services and workers’ rights.

Tim Drea, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO, recounted his early years as an activist in the UMWA, as well as his service in the U.S. Marine Corps and presented a powerful critique of the alarming cuts to veterans’ health care and other vital services incorporated in the so-called Big, Beautiful Bill.

Jason Anderson, a regional vice-president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union of federal government employees, described the damage done by the Trump administration’s termination of the collective bargaining rights of federal workers.

Action Taken

Convention attendees voted overwhelmingly in support of a constitutional amendment to restructure Council 31 dues effective July 1, 2026.  In addition, a number of resolutions were adopted that will guide our union’s priorities and strategies over the next two years, including resolutions that:

• Reaffirm our commitment to continue growing our union through organizing the unorganized.
• Vow to continue the fight for safe working conditions in state prisons and juvenile centers.
• Pledge our union’s support to besieged federal workers.
• Take a hard stance on artificial intelligence and commit our union to standing against any proposal to replace the work of human beings with AI. 

Click here to view the full text of all resolutions adopted by convention delegates.

Council 31 Executive Board elections held

Delegates re-elected Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch, Treasurer Terence Boone and Secretary Loretta Soresie. 

Many board members were also re-elected and several new members also won seats for the first time. Click here to view the complete list.

Honoring members

Steward of the Year: Eric Rohman, AFSCME Local 1805, for his unwavering resolve to fight for his members’ rights.

Public Service Award: Mark Bramm, AFSCME Local 46, for leadership of his local’s annual coat drive, which has made sure hundreds of children in their community have the warm winter clothes they need.

Jane Fitzgerald-Gloria Arseneau Award: Cecelia Phillips, AFSCME Local 900, for her courageous leadership in preparing her local union to strike if necessary in order to win a fair contract. 

When the convention concluded on Oct. 18, delegates and guests returned home to their locals inspired and ready to go All In in the fight for fairness and justice.