Council Leadership

 

Executive Director - Henry Bayer

More than 35 years ago, Henry Bayer became an organizer with AFSCME in Chicago. Soon after, in 1976, he directed the successful campaign to win representation rights for 12,000 state para-professional and professional employees.

He's been aggressively building the numbers and the influence of Council 31 ever since, assuming his position as Executive Director in 1993.

A native of New Hampshire, he moved to Chicago in 1968 to teach in the Chicago Public Schools. He soon moved into the labor movement, though, accepting an education position with the Amalgamated Meatcutters Union before joining AFSCME.

 

Deputy Director - Roberta Lynch

Roberta Lynch came to Council 31 after serving as Research Director of the Chicago Area Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. Her first post with the Council was as Public Policy Director, a position she assumed in 1984. She became deputy director in 1993.

Lynch’s career has been dedicated to the rights of working people, to equal opportunity, to economic justice. A Philadelphia native, she is a graduate of Duquesne University and was previously involved in a number of community and political organizing efforts.

She is also the co-author of  Rusted Dreams: Hard Times in a Steel Community, which chronicles the decline of the steel industry in Southeast Chicago.

Council 31 Executive Board Officers

State Executive Vice-President

Lori Laidlaw

Thomson CC, Local 2359

 

City/County Executive Vice-President

Carmin Willis-Goodloe

Cook County Hospital, Local 1111

 

Private Sector Executive Vice-President

Yolanda Sims

Hope School, Local 2481

 

University Executive Vice-President

Dorinda Miller

U of I Clericals, Local 3700

 

Secretary

Barney Franklin

City of Chicago, Local 2946

 

Treasurer

Sam Rossi

Departments of Revenue and Lottery, Local 2467

 

Board Members

 

State Conference Board Co-Chairs

 

Gloria Arseneau, (RC-14),

Northeastern Illinois State employees, Local 2794

David Ford, (RC-63)

Murray DC, Local 401

Randy Hellman, (RC-6)

Pinckneyville CC, Local 943

 

Region I Vice-Presidents

(Cook and Lake Counties)

 

Darlene Banks

Little City, Local 4008

Patricia Ousley

Department of Employment Security, Local 1006

Ed Schwartz

Cook County DCFS, Local 2081

Denise Slaughter

New Hope Center, Local 1232

Eva Spencer-Chatman

Chicago Read MHC, Local 1610

Laverne Walker

City of Chicago, Local 505

Kevin Johnson

city of Evanston, Local 1891

 

Region II Vice-Presidents

(Nothern Illinois)

 

Gary Ciaccio

Shapiro DC, Local 29

Rob Fanti

Sheridan CC, Local 472

Ralph Portwood

Stateville CC, Local 1866

Pat Sanders

IYC Joliet, Local 1753

Garry Cacciapaglia

city of Rockford, Local 1058

 

Region III Vice-Presidents

(Central Illinois)

 

Gary Kroeschel

Sangamon Co. State employees, Local 2224

Richard Heitz

Canton Correctional Center, Local 3585

Matt Lukow

Springfield Area State employees, Local 1964

David Morris

Illinois State employees, Local 805

Matt Pederson

Eastern Illinois University, Local 981

Cameron Watson

Jacksonville CC, Local 3549

Trudy Williams

Fulton Co., Local 3433

 

Region IV Vice-Presidents

(Southern Illinois)

Larry Flynn

Vienna CC, Local 415

Cary Quick

Choate MH/DC, Local 141

Michael Hamil

SIU-Edwardsville, Local 2887

Barb Reardon

Southern Illinois State Employees, Local 1048

 

Trustees

 

Ken Kleinlein

Western CC, Local 3567

Kathy Lane

Northwestern Illinois State Employees, Local 448

Tom Minick

Moline Schools, Local 672

 

Retiree Chapter 31 Representative

 

Virginia Yates