Why Organize?

“As DSPs, our mission is to serve the developmentally disabled community with pride and dignity, while providing stable living for our own families. This has been difficult with the loss of co-workers, lack of program funding, downsizing, Covid, etc. Against the odds, with blood, sweat, tears and solidarity, our union came through victorious! We secured good pay raises, affordable health insurance, safer working conditions, better benefits, and much respect. I couldn’t be more proud to be an AFSCME member!”

Yurvette Simmons, lead DSP at UCP/Easter Seals and president of AFSCME Local 3237.

"I didn't fully understand this until going through a tough 14-month contract fight: Workers who stand together and demand respect wield a power that is transformative. The contract and union rights we gained are important, but solidarity among my coworkers is the key to achieving the changes we wish to see in the workplace." 

Sheila Majumdar, editor, Art Institute of Chicago, and member of AICWU/AFSCME bargaining team

"We stood together and won our union with AFSCME Council 31 despite all of management's anti-union tactics. They paid a lot of money to union-busters and used many scare tactics, but we stuck to our organizing plan and supported each other which led to our success.  We won a fair contract with increased wages and safer working conditions along with a REAL voice in the decisions at work and you can too!"

Lynette Kincaid, Community Support Specialist at UCAN Behavioral Health Center and AFSCME Local 3096 President

"Our collective efforts over two-plus years resulted in us having a voice in the workplace and a great roadmap to more financial equity. Showing solidarity through the difficult 14 months of bargaining with management was been vital to letting them know that we are AICWU and that OUR union is here to stay!"

Myia Brown, Assistant Director, Career and Professional Development, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and president of AICWU/AFSCME Local 35

"Organizing our union presented an opportunity to come together with my co-workers and ensure the best future for our work place and our community."

Max Beedle, Environmental Health Specialist,  Champaign-Urbana County Health Department