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Museum, school employees file for historic union election at Art Institute of Chicago

Nov. 02, 2021

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Nov. 02, 2021

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Museum, school employees file for historic union election at Art Institute of Chicago

Employees of the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC, the museum) and the School of the Art Institute (SAIC, the college) took another big step toward forming their union when they filed representation petitions with the National Labor Relations Board.

Museum, school employees file for historic union election at Art Institute of Chicago

Better Together: AFSCME Council 31 Convention

Oct. 29, 2021

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Oct. 29, 2021

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Better Together: AFSCME Council 31 Convention

With the theme of Better Together, AFSCME Council 31’s 22nd biennial convention focused on all that has been achieved through solidarity over the last two years—and the importance of staying united to overcome the challenges ahead.

Better Together: AFSCME Council 31 Convention

VIDEO: In Memoriam—Rest in Power

Oct. 29, 2021

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Oct. 29, 2021

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VIDEO: In Memoriam—Rest in Power

This memorial video of AFSCME members who we have lost since our last convention in 2019 was aired at convention on October 15, 2021 and includes a beautiful performance by Renee Barnes who is on the staff of our international union.

VIDEO: In Memoriam—Rest in Power

VIDEO: AFSCME Council 31 On the Front Lines

Oct. 27, 2021

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Oct. 27, 2021

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VIDEO: AFSCME Council 31 On the Front Lines

AFSCME members have been on the front lines of this pandemic since Day One and we’re still going strong. Don’t miss this video that premiered at the Council 31 convention on October 16.

VIDEO: AFSCME Council 31 On the Front Lines

On the Job: Bill Van Buskirk

Sep. 21, 2021

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Sep. 21, 2021

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On the Job: Bill Van Buskirk

A member of AFSCME Local 799 and a Madison County Probation Officer, this AFSCME member makes a difference every day.

On the Job: Bill Van Buskirk

AFSCME helps change the law for Wexford CNAs

Sep. 21, 2021

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Sep. 21, 2021

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AFSCME helps change the law for Wexford CNAs

In the spring state legislative session, the AFSCME Council 31 lobbying team secured passage of a bill that helps certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in the Illinois Department of Corrections maintain their certification.

AFSCME helps change the law for Wexford CNAs

AFSCME members keep children safe through pandemic

Sep. 21, 2021

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Sep. 21, 2021

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AFSCME members keep children safe through pandemic

Three Child Protection Specialists in the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services share their stories of protecting the well-being of vulnerable children despite the risks to their own health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AFSCME members keep children safe through pandemic

“What AFSCME has meant to our family”

Sep. 21, 2021

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Sep. 21, 2021

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“What AFSCME has meant to our family”

Miley Worker is winner of a national 2021 AFSCME Family Scholarship and the daughter of AFSCME Council 31 Executive Board member and Local 993 President Tim Worker.

“What AFSCME has meant to our family”

Vaccination offers strong protection against Delta variant

Sep. 15, 2021

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Sep. 15, 2021

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Vaccination offers strong protection against Delta variant

Fully vaccinated individuals are five times less likely to get infected, more than ten times less likely to die of COVID than unvaccinated individuals and more than ten times less likely to be hospitalized.

Vaccination offers strong protection against Delta variant

COVID soaring again—Delta variant strikes hard

Sep. 08, 2021

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Sep. 08, 2021

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COVID soaring again—Delta variant strikes hard

Vaccines have proven to be the most effective way by far to protect against the coronavirus and its variants, reducing infection and preventing hospitalization and death.

COVID soaring again—Delta variant strikes hard

Americans are pro-union

Sep. 03, 2021

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Sep. 03, 2021

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Americans are pro-union

Americans’ approval of labor unions is at the highest point it’s been in decades—68%—a recent Gallup poll found.

Americans are pro-union

School joins Art Institute of Chicago Workers United and AFSCME

Aug. 10, 2021

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Aug. 10, 2021

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School joins Art Institute of Chicago Workers United and AFSCME

More than 300 employees of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago are forming a union, joining 300 workers on the museum side of the Art Institute. Both groups are coming together as the Art Institute of Chicago Workers United (AICWU).

School joins Art Institute of Chicago Workers United and AFSCME

Art Institute of Chicago workers join AFSCME

Aug. 03, 2021

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Aug. 03, 2021

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Art Institute of Chicago workers join AFSCME

More than 300 employees of the Art Institute of Chicago are forming a union, the Art Institute of Chicago Workers United (AICWU), with AFSCME. The announcement came Aug. 3 in a public letter signed by 60 employees.

Art Institute of Chicago workers join AFSCME

AFSCME members protest proposed sale of city water service

Jul. 30, 2021

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Jul. 30, 2021

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AFSCME members protest proposed sale of city water service

AFSCME Local 988 members sounded the alarm about a private corporation pushing to take over the city's water service with a robust informational picket: “I don’t think something like water should be used for profit."

AFSCME members protest proposed sale of city water service

Big win for Niles public library

Jul. 22, 2021

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Jul. 22, 2021

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Big win for Niles public library

One day after a rally when more than 150 AFSCME members and their supporters spoke out against threatened cuts to library staff, services and hours, the Niles-Maine library board approved a budget plan that avoids the worst of the cuts.

Big win for Niles public library

Child tax credits arrive

Jul. 22, 2021

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Jul. 22, 2021

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Child tax credits arrive

Last week AFSCME members got a big boost in their “mailboxes”—the largest-ever tax cut for working families in American history is the newly expanded child tax credit, part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

Child tax credits arrive

Illinois budget—outlook good!

Jul. 01, 2021

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Jul. 01, 2021

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Illinois budget—outlook good!

Illinois' credit rating has been upgraded for the first time in more than 20 years.

Illinois budget—outlook good!

Cook County employees win contract

Jun. 29, 2021

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Jun. 29, 2021

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Cook County employees win contract

After months of bargaining, 4,000 Cook County employees secured a new union contract with significant pay increases.

Cook County employees win contract

Tentative agreement reached with Cook County

Jun. 23, 2021

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Jun. 23, 2021

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Tentative agreement reached with Cook County

We did it! On June 23, the AFSCME bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement on a new union contract for some 4,000 members in Cook County government.

Tentative agreement reached with Cook County

Niles-Maine library employees form union with AFSCME

Jun. 14, 2021

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Jun. 14, 2021

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Niles-Maine library employees form union with AFSCME

U.S. Rep. Schakowsky, other leaders sign letter backing workers, opposing library board’s threatened cuts.

Niles-Maine library employees form union with AFSCME