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Rep. Gregg Johnson on building political power through people power

State Rep. Gregg Johnson is an AFSCME retiree and the former president of AFSCME Local 46 at East Moline Correctional Center. On Nov. 5, he won re-election to his seat as state representative from Illinois’ 87th District in the Quad Cities area.

Rep. Gregg Johnson on building political power through people power

Meet the big rig-driving librarians of AFSCME Local 699

Brittany Adams sticks out among the long-haul truckers at the DMV when she goes to renew her Class B Commercial Driver’s License. That’s because she’s not an over-the-road trucker; she works at the Bloomington Public Library, and she drives the library’s 32-foot-long Bookmobile.

Meet the big rig-driving librarians of AFSCME Local 699

AFSCME members keep Chicagoland's water running

If you live in the Chicago area, the twist of your faucet yields some of the cleanest, purest drinking water in the world—and you have AFSCME members to thank for it.

AFSCME members keep Chicagoland's water running

Local 2608 bus drivers and monitors win fair new contract

Some 250 school bus drivers and bus monitors serving the Unit 5 School District in Bloomington-Normal have won a fair new contract that includes strong wage increases, guaranteed daily hours, and improved paid leave language in line with the Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act.

Local 2608 bus drivers and monitors win fair new contract

Local 1216 RNs defeat management's dangerous staffing proposals

Registered nurses (RNs) at Loretto Hospital in Chicago have won a new contract, defeating management’s proposals that would have compromised staff safety and worsened the quality of care for patients at the hospital. 

Local 1216 RNs defeat management's dangerous staffing proposals

Thousands rally in Springfield to say “Fix Tier 2!”

Thousands of public service workers—members of AFSCME and our allied unions in the We Are One Illinois coalition—gathered in Springfield on Nov. 13 to demand lawmakers fix the broken and unfair Tier 2 pension system.

Thousands rally in Springfield to say “Fix Tier 2!”

Our power is in our unity

There’s been a lot of talk lately about the divisions in our country, how we are increasingly split—red vs. blue, old vs. young, even men vs. women.

Our power is in our unity

Our Safety Matters! IDOC employees turn up heat for safer working conditions

AFSCME report details scope of drug problem

A new report published by AFSCME Council 31 confirms what IDOC employees have long been saying: Drugs have increasingly become a massive problem in Illinois prisons, and management’s inaction has had serious consequences for staff and individual

Our Safety Matters! IDOC employees turn up heat for safer working conditions

Urbana Free Library workers organize with AFSCME

The 60 employees of the Urbana Free Library (UFL) voted unanimously to form their union, which was certified by the Illinois Labor Relations Board on Nov. 6.

The UFL has been Urbana-Champaign’s public library since 1874. 

Urbana Free Library workers organize with AFSCME

Shedd Aquarium employees win union election

There’s yet another crest in the historic wave of workers forming unions at Chicago cultural institutions: Employees at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium have formed their union with AFSCME Council 31. 

Shedd Aquarium employees win union election

State Board of Education employees secure "monumental" contract

Members of AFSCME Local 2811 who work for the Illinois State Board of Education started bargaining a new contract for their 45 members while negotiations for a new State of Illinois master contract were already well underway.

State Board of Education employees secure "monumental" contract

"Chalk up" Local 3236's new contract to strong action

AFSCME Local 3236 at Illinois State University has secured two strong new contracts for its clerical and healthcare bargaining units that can both point to a chalking action as their contract campaign’s turning point.

"Chalk up" Local 3236's new contract to strong action

Victory quickly follows after Local 1787 pickets for safe staffing

Members of AFSCME Local 1787 at the Quincy Veterans Home took to the picket line on Sept. 4 to call out the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) for not taking the necessary steps to foster hiring at the facility.

Victory quickly follows after Local 1787 pickets for safe staffing

AFSCME ends DHS reliance on temporary agency staff

For more than two years, AFSCME has been working to end the Illinois Department of Human Services’s (DHS) reliance on temporary agency staff in residential centers for people with developmental disabilities.

AFSCME ends DHS reliance on temporary agency staff

We mourn the passing of Bill Lucy

William “Bill” Lucy, who served as secretary-treasurer of AFSCME for nearly four decades and was one of the most respected and revered Black labor leaders in the world, died at his home in Washington, D.C. He was 90 years old.

We mourn the passing of Bill Lucy

Let's vote to stop Project 2025

The five richest men in the United States are now referred to as centibillionaires, meaning they are each worth more than $100 billion. That’s not a typo, though it is a travesty. And there’s more: The ranks of billionaires are steadily growing.

Let's vote to stop Project 2025

Our Safety Matters: AFSCME members in IDOC and IDHS picket for safe workplaces

When confronted with management inaction in the wake of serious assaults on staff at their facilities, AFSCME members at Menard Correctional Center and Ludeman Developmental Center both took their fight for safe workplaces to the picket line.

Our Safety Matters: AFSCME members in IDOC and IDHS picket for safe workplaces

AFSCME Recommendations: 2024 General Election

Standing together in our union, we win strong contracts with good pay and benefits. We defend our rights and defeat those who would take them away. Voting together, we can elect leaders who share our priorities.

AFSCME Recommendations: 2024 General Election

After long fight, Chicago finally reopening mental health clinics

For more than a decade, AFSCME members and allies have been fighting to rebuild the network of city-run mental health clinics that were shuttered, neglected or ignored by the administrations of mayors Daley, Emanuel and Lightfoot.

After long fight, Chicago finally reopening mental health clinics

NIU workers overcome management opposition to win fair contract

Members of AFSCME Local 963, which represents nearly 170 building and food service workers at Northern Illinois University, kept their foot on the gas pedal throughout a year-long contract campaign, taking vigorous action every step of the way.

NIU workers overcome management opposition to win fair contract