Category Archives: President’s Message

A New Year, A New Look

Sisters and Brothers, 2011 has been a very tough year for this local, but despite it all, we have met each challenge with strength and resolve. President P began the year with the FY2011 budget battle that threatened the layoffs of, at one time, some 60 assistant public defenders.  Together, we were able to advocate [...]

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Oppose President P’s Budget Proposal!

Brothers and Sisters:   This week County Board President P unveiled her very disappointing FY 12 budget plan which includes the loss of more than $50 million in revenue as the result of her decision to remove ¼ of one percent of the sales tax.   The dollars lost from that decision alone would have saved [...]

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Let’s Rally in Springfield on October 26, 2011

We fought off efforts during the Spring to gut our pension benefits but the big corporations vowed to return during the fall veto session.  Well, the fall veto session goes into swing next week and we need a few good members to step forward  and drive down to Springfield and lobby their State Senators and [...]

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Union Reaches Tentative Agreement with County

The bargaining committee representing Cook County locals reached a tentative agreement with managment on Friday, September 30, 2011.  AFSCME Council 31 will be holding a ratification vote on Thursday, 10/6/2011 at all major work sites.  Details will be available soon on the time and specific location for the ratification voting.  Information on the terms of [...]

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YOUR Retirement Benefits are Safe

Pension Cuts Blocked: As a result of the most potent lobbying campaign ever waged at the Illinois Statehouse, AFSCME and our allies in the We Are One Illinois coalition succeeded in blocking legislation to cut public employee pensions that was backed by leaders of both political parties and our state’s biggest corporations. SB 512 would [...]

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Elections, Pensions and the Illinois Constitution.

Sisters and Brothers: Pension Politics Tim, Brendan and I are back from Springfield on a lobbying effort by our Local and AFSCME Council 31, and other members of the We Are One Coalition to bring the truth about pensions to the lawmakers in Illinois, who are on the verge of changing the landscape of our retirement plans. [...]

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UNION ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON MAY 5, 2011 @ ALL MAJOR SITES.

Sisters and Brothers: Click here for link to Election Information from Election Chair, Christa Petty.  

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125th Anniversary of Haymarket Square: Union Sponsors Debate on Collective Bargaining Rights

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WE ARE ONE RALLY THIS SATURDAY AT DALEY PLAZA

Excitement is building for the WE ARE ONE Rally this Saturday, April 9, 2011 at Daley Plaza.  While the Rally begins at 1pm, and Bill Lucy will be speaking,  thousands of union activists, friends and family will be gathering around downtown during the hour before the Rally.  Already we have had many members commit to [...]

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Furloughs? You Decide by Voting March 10th.

  Sisters and Brothers, The bargaining committee had hoped to negotiate a complete package to vote on, which would have included a new contract and the County’s furlough day proposal.  Unfortunately, the County continues to stall meaningful contract negotiations.  Therefore, the vote tomorrow will only concern furlough days, and not a new contract. Here are the basics [...]

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