An open letter to the Illinois Policy Institute

AFSCME member and state employee Ty Ellison received a letter in the mail from the IPI, professing to want to improve his life by helping him quit his union. He isn’t having it.

I didn't know what to expect when I saw the large envelope addressed to me, as I would rather be on a mailing list for Teletubby-vampire fan fiction than to receive anything from you. But I knew that WHATEVER it was, it had to be interesting. And boy, was it.

You took the time and expense to send me a letter informing me of my "rights" to opt out of my union as a result of the Janus decision. And you included a pre-addressed envelope, addressed to AFSCME, so that I can send them a letter informing them of my decision to opt out of the union.

But the joke's on you.

Tactics like these will only strengthen my resolve to stay with my union, and to fight your right-wing tactics tooth-and-nail.

In fact, I'm going to use the envelope that you sent me to inform AFSCME of my desire to stay in my union, and to let them know what you're up to. I'm going to spread this letter to every union employee I know, and encourage them to do the same.

I guess you're too cowardly to send a pre-addressed envelope with YOUR address on it; otherwise, I would actually use the ink from my printer to tell you where you can stick the Janus decision.

It is my prayer that once Governor Rauner is tossed from office, your Koch backers run from you, leaving you and your newest employee Mark Janus as hollowed-out husks of what they used to be.

Sincerely,

Ty Ellison
AFSCME Local 1006