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Progress towards fair pay at NIU

Six weeks after Northern Illinois University support staff went public with their frustration over low pay at work and long delays at the bargaining table, they’ve won a new union contract that makes significant strides toward improving wages.

Progress towards fair pay at NIU

Severe assaults on employees in two state prisons

Educator and officer brutally beaten at Sheridan

Severe assaults on employees in two state prisons

Elk Grove library workers win with help of community

When AFSCME members at the Elk Grove Village Public Library sent their bargaining committee into negotiations in March, they were aiming high. With the help of their community, they achieved their goals.

Elk Grove library workers win with help of community

AFSCME intervenes to block sale of DeKalb nursing home

The sale of the DeKalb County Nursing Home to a for-profit buyer has been blocked by a state review board after new light was shed on the questionable background and ethics of its would-be for-profit buyer.

AFSCME intervenes to block sale of DeKalb nursing home

Local 2040 members take bus driver shortage into their own hands

A novel training program spearheaded by AFSCME results in the filling of all driver vacancies

Local 2040 members take bus driver shortage into their own hands

Niles library employees win first contract

Employees of the Niles-Maine District Library have their first union contract, and along with it, significant wage increases and—for the first time—paid parental leave.

Niles library employees win first contract

Newberry Library employees win first contract

More than 60 employees of the Newberry Library—who formed their union, Newberry Workers United/AFSCME, one year ago—have overwhelmingly voted to ratify their first union contract.

Newberry Library employees win first contract

One Strong Union: AFSCME Council 31 23rd Biennial Convention Recap

More than 500 delegates, alternates, and guests met in Springfield on October 19-21 for Council 31’s 23rd Biennial Convention under the banner of “One Strong Union” to chart our union’s path forward over the next two years.

One Strong Union: AFSCME Council 31 23rd Biennial Convention Recap

St. Charles Public Library workers win first contract

For the 54 AFSCME members at the St. Charles Public Library, their first contract ticks all the boxes—and then some.

St. Charles Public Library workers win first contract

Push is on to improve Tier 2 pensions

AFSCME members and Council 31 legislative and policy staff made their voices heard before the state House Personnel and Pensions Committee at a hearing on improvements to Tier 2 pensions.

Push is on to improve Tier 2 pensions

Spread the Word: Public Service Matters!

AFSCME members like us know how important the work we do is. And we know how important it is to have adequate staffing levels to be able to fulfill our mission. So we need to spread the word: There are good union jobs available serving the public good!

Spread the Word: Public Service Matters!

Excerpts from the Wall Street Journal editorial attacking the AFSCME State Contract

Excerpts from the Wall Street Journal editorial attacking the AFSCME State Contract

Art Institute of Chicago, School of the Art Institute Chicago employees ratify union contract

More than 500 employees of the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) have ratified their first union contract.

Art Institute of Chicago, School of the Art Institute Chicago employees ratify union contract

Museum of Science and Industry workers join AFSCME

Workers at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry officially formed their union, Museum of Science and Industry Workers United, with AFSCME Council 31.

Museum of Science and Industry workers join AFSCME

Local 1275 brings politics into play

Local 1275 recruited and campaigned for school board candidates who were more sympathetic to their problems. They all won—and the result was a contract extension that properly values the work they do.

Local 1275 brings politics into play

AFSCME offers roadmap to reopen Chicago’s closed mental health clinics

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s commitment to reopen previously closed mental health clinics and begin building a new and better system of public mental health services can be kept in the mayor’s first term, according to a new report from Council 31.

AFSCME offers roadmap to reopen Chicago’s closed mental health clinics

We Did It! New state contract ratified

The new contract for AFSCME members in state government was ratified by a resounding 99% vote.

We Did It! New state contract ratified

Waukegan Public Library workers win stronger rights in first contract

For the new AFSCME members at the Waukegan Public Library, the first chapter in the story of their union ends on a high note: They’ve won a first contract guaranteeing them a strong voice on the job and fair wages.

Waukegan Public Library workers win stronger rights in first contract

State contract negotiations heat up

With no clear signs that the Management Bargaining Committee recognizes the importance of the work that state employees do, union members are beginning to take more forceful actions to secure a fair contract.

State contract negotiations heat up

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum workers win union election with AFSCME

In the sixth big win in the past year and a half for Chicago-area cultural workers organizing with AFSCME, employees of the Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and its off-site collections facility won their union election.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum workers win union election with AFSCME