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Volunteer member organizers grow our union stronger

Shaleah Blackshear has lived in Lake County most of her life. The people who work for the Lake County Health Department are her neighbors. They’re the friendly faces she sees at the grocery store. Some are longtime family friends. 

Volunteer member organizers grow our union stronger

AFSCME City of Chicago Update: February 2025

Threat of federal funding cuts causes chaos, confusion

On Jan. 27, the Trump administration issued a memo halting disbursement of all federal funding appropriated by Congress.

AFSCME City of Chicago Update: February 2025

Threat of federal funding cuts causes chaos, confusion

On Jan. 27, the Trump administration issued a memo halting disbursement of all federal funding appropriated by Congress.  The public sector was a particular target, with services like Medicaid brought to a screeching halt, payment portals for Head Start and other vital programs shut down, and the jobs of tens of thousands of public workers in jeopardy.

Threat of federal funding cuts causes chaos, confusion

Retiree Notes: Winter 2025

Concerns grow over nominee to lead Medicare and Medicaid

Donald Trump has nominated Mehmet Oz—more commonly known by his TV moniker “Dr.

Retiree Notes: Winter 2025

Landmark legislation ends unfair Social Security penalties for public employees

After year upon year of an intensive grassroots lobbying campaign, in the final days of 2024, the U.S.

Landmark legislation ends unfair Social Security penalties for public employees

AFSCME University Member Update: Winter 2025

At the bargaining table: Pushing for better pay and benefits

Our previous bulletin reported on the strong new contract agreements won by members of AFSCME Local 3236 at Illinois State University in Normal.

AFSCME University Member Update: Winter 2025

As fires devastate Los Angeles, AFSCME members continue to serve

The ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles have devastated parts of that city, destroying tens of thousands of homes, killing dozens of people, and upending countless lives. Yet as AFSCME members in Los Angeles have experienced unimaginable destruction, they continue to serve their communities, putting others first even while they face incredible personal losses.

As fires devastate Los Angeles, AFSCME members continue to serve

2025 Chicago budget avoids layoffs of city workers

Following a long and arduous process, the Chicago City Council passed a budget for 2025 on Dec. 16. The good news: The $17.3 billion budget contains no layoffs or furloughs of AFSCME members.

2025 Chicago budget avoids layoffs of city workers

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