Public services, fairness and respect for workers are focus at legislative conference
Maintaining and improving the public services that every Illinois resident relies on, ensuring fairness and respect for the frontline employees who provide those services, and working constructively in a bipartisan manner to address the state’s budget challenges: Those were the main themes of the annual AFSCME Council 31 legislative conference held Jan. 24 in Springfield.
The 500 delegates—frontline public service workers elected by their co-workers to represent local unions from every part of the state—heard speeches from the newly inaugurated Illinois treasurer Mike Frerichs, a Democrat, and Republican state senator Sam McCann.
"AFSCME members work hard every day to serve their community and provide for the common good," AFSCME Council 31 executive director Roberta Lynch said. "We want what every working person wants: Respect, fair treatment, a voice at work and the resources to do the job right."
"I never thought I'd see a time when it would be a partisan issue to support working people," senator McCann said. "It burdens my heart to know you get up every day and go to work to serve the public and yet it's almost impossible for you to be respected by some. This isn't about partisanship or politics, it's about people."
Delegates included child protection workers, library employees, caregivers for the elderly, veterans and the disabled, sheriff's police, health care workers, correctional employees in state prisons and county jails, school bus drivers and cafeteria workers, and countless other essential employees of cities, counties and state government, universities, school districts and not-for-profit organizations across Illinois.They set the union's course for the spring legislative session, emphasizing support for public services, collective bargaining, fair pay, affordable health care, retirement security, tax fairness, and ensuring that public services aren't compromised for private profit.
"Our union has always worked with elected officials of both parties who understand the value of public services and respect public service workers. We're helpers and problem solvers by trade," AFSCME director Lynch said. "Given its very real challenges, the state can't afford conflict and divisiveness."