From local businesses to city sidewalks, everyone’s wearing AFSCME green. Choate and its employees are essential parts of the community—and the community is standing with them every step of the way.

Southern Illinois stands united in saying Keep Choate Working! Community members across the region are standing with AFSCME Local 141 against the state’s proposed downsizing of Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center.

Despite repeated assurances from the state that there would be no layoffs this year, our union learned yesterday that the Illinois Department of Human Services plans to drastically downsize Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center, laying off more than 200 employees.

When Bain Capital bought disability services provider Broadstep—where workers were represented by AFSCME Local 1972—quality of care collapsed as the new owners cut corners. Soon after, Broadstep’s Illinois homes were forced to shut down, and caregivers like Rori Schrader lost their jobs.

This 4th of July, we celebrate our freedoms—the freedom to join together, the freedom to speak out, and the freedom to fight for something better. That’s what AFSCME members do every single day.

The federal government tried to disqualify public service workers with student loans from receiving Public Service Loan Forgiveness based on supposed political disagreements. Our union fought back, and on Tuesday, the courts agreed with us.

This Juneteenth, we recognize how far we have come, and how far we still must go. Black workers across the country continue to push for fair pay and safe working conditions. The fight for justice and equality is a long one—and one that will be won through solidarity.

More than 75 employees of the Moultrie County Beacon are forming a union with Council 31! “By standing together and forming our union, we can build a stronger organization for both workers and the individuals who depend on us every day,” the workers wrote in a public letter released Thursday.

Everyone deserves to be proud of the work they do and the lives they lead. That’s why we support LGBTQ+ workers’ rights and advocate for a more equitable workplace. Happy Pride Month!

Members of AFSCME Local 370 who work for the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine organized several direct actions in their fight for a new contract—and the result is an agreement that features their first-ever parental leave policy, and pay raises 2x what management initially offered.

When disaster strikes, AFSCME members answer the call. City of Freeport 911 telecommunicator and AFSCME Local 3367 member Cierra Matthews’ quick thinking in response to a deadly house fire saved a woman’s life and earned her a commendation from the city.

On this day 10 years ago, 10,000 union members descended on Springfield to protest Bruce Rauner’s anti-union, anti-worker agenda. Rauner—and every other anti-union politician watching—got a lesson that day: Don’t cross working people, because we fight back.

NEWS: 100 Cook County Board of Review employees have won their first union contract! Before they joined AFSCME, Board of Review employees’ pay lagged behind other AFSCME-represented workers in the county. But now that they have a voice on the job, they were able to win fairer pay for their work.

NEWS: Library workers at the Prospect Heights Public Library filed for their union with AFSCME Council 31! When their union is certified, they’re looking forward to working towards a more equitable workplace, improving staffing—and making their voices heard on the policies that affect them.

BIG NEWS: Late last night the AFSCME Local 1110 Bargaining Committee reached a tentative agreement with ISU! Members are reviewing the terms of the agreement today and voting on ratification. If approved, the 28-day-long strike at the university will be over.

On May Day — International Workers' Day — we remember the sacrifices made by union members of the past to win the rights we have today. The 8-hour workday, weekends, overtime pay, workplace safety protections—they weren't handed to us. Workers fought for them, and some gave their lives for them.

Members of AFSCME Local 1110, accompanied by State Sen. Dave Koehler and State Rep. Sharon Chung, delivered a stack of 6,000 petition signatures to President Tarhule on Friday. That’s 6,000 students, parents and community members saying that ISU should end the strike and agree to a fair contract.

Their work—caring for people with disabilities—is important. Their wages don’t match the level of care and commitment they bring to the job—and that needs to change.

AFSCME-represented direct support professionals from across Illinois converged on Springfield on Wednesday to urge lawmakers to support a bill that will fund a fair wage increase for their work.

IL Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Treasurer Michael Frerichs are speaking out in support of members of AFSCME Local 1110. The statewide leaders are calling on ISU to end the strike by coming back to the bargaining table and agreeing to a fair contract.

Tarhule has the power to end the strike today. Instead, he’s decided he’s willing to let the whole campus pay the price for his stubbornness.

On Day 9 of their strike, ISU workers, along with students, faculty and staff, rallied outside President Tarhule’s office to send him a message: You can’t hide from us forever. Order your team back to the bargaining table and agree to a fair contract.

It’s Day 8 of the ISU strike—and members of AFSCME Local 1110 aren’t backing down. The students are with them. The faculty are with them. Elected officials are with them. AFSCME members across Illinois are with them. They’re in this fight for respect. They won’t back down until they get it.

The editorial board of The Vidette, ISU’s student newspaper, is calling out university administration for its failure to treat campus workers with respect. They’re urging President Tarhule to immediately end the strike by agreeing to a fair contract.

ISU building service worker Alexandra Salto is on strike for her daughters, Yaslin and Yoana. The low pay ISU currently offers means she has to work long hours just to keep food on their table and a roof over their heads.

ISU strike, Day 3: University hiring strikebreakers from private, for-profit companies

It’s day 3 of the strike at ISU and members of AFSMCE Local 1110 are united and determined to HOLD THE LINE!

Throughout the first day of the strike, students have been standing proudly with the workers: tabling outside the student center, handing out snacks to strikers, and showing support in other ways.

Illinois State students see and feel the work members of AFSCME Local 1110 do every day to keep the campus running. Without their work, dorms aren’t cleaned, food isn’t served and grounds aren’t picked up.

AFSCME Local 1110 is ON STRIKE! At 6 a.m., more than 300 building service, dining service, grounds workers at Illinois State University walked off the job. They’re striking for dignity, respect and a wage they can actually live on—and they’re prepared to stand strong for as long as it takes.