Workers and retirees won big in Illinois, passing the Workers' Rights Amendment and electing union-backed candidates in nearly every state and federal race, and in a majority of county contests.
With the Workers’ Rights Amendment in place, politicians couldn’t simply change the law to take away wages, benefits, workplace safety protections or other provisions of your union contract — the state Constitution would stand in their way.
Employees of Chicago’s iconic Field Museum announced in a public letter today that they are coming together to form their union, Field Museum Workers United. Like workers at the Art Institute of Chicago, are also joining AFSCME Council 31.
Nearly 100 employees of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District are coming together to form their union with AFSCME Council 31. Workers say they’re fighting for fair pay, transparency, and equal opportunity.
Art Institute of Chicago Workers United announced on Sept. 21 that a majority of the 600 adjunct professors and lecturers have signed union cards and are asking school administration to recognize their union.
The Pritzker Administration announced steps to speed up and expand hiring in state government. Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch says our union will do all we can to advance that effort.
Employees of the Newberry Library in Chicago are forming a union, the workers’ organizing committee announced today in an open letter to their colleagues.
In response to forceful protests, the Illinois Department of Corrections has halted a plan to sharply reduce capacity at Vandalia Correctional Center—a plan that many feared was a precursor to closing the prison entirely.
Beginning July 11 in Philadelphia, AFSCME members will convene in person for AFSCME's 45th International Convention. It will be the first in-person convention in four years. The theme is aptly “All Together.”
Veronica Lea has been a direct support professional (DSP) for 30 years. She works at Trinity Services, Inc., helping senior women with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is the 2022 Illinois DSP of the Year.
Primary Election Day was June 28 in Illinois. We voted together to elect pro-worker candidates. And Winnebago County decisively voted YES to save River Bluff Nursing Home.
The IPI filed a lawsuit attempting to stop the Workers' Rights Amendment from being on the ballot in November. But it didn’t work. Sangamon County Circuit Judge denied their petition.
CGH Medical Center in Sterling has been found in violation of state labor law—again. The public hospital illegally retaliated against employees who engaged in lawful activities and wrongfully fired a union supporter.
CGH Medical Center violated state labor law by instructing workers how to revoke their union membership, according to a recommended decision issued late March by an administrative law judge of the Illinois Labor Relations Board.
Because of AFSCME’s efforts, direct support professionals (DSPs) and other frontline employees at state-funded disability agencies have seen their wages go up an average of more than $5 per hour over the past five budget cycles.
