Thousands of working families Rally for Fairness across Illinois
Thousands of AFSCME members and retirees, fellow union members, community groups, elected officials and faith leaders joined seven Rallies for Fairness across the state, sending Gov. Rauner a clear message: anti-worker agendas have no place in Illinois. Click here to watch a video compilation of the rallies.
December 10 in Springfield was a stunning final night in the week of statewide Rallies for Fairness. All seven rallies were packed with energetic crowds waving signs that said “Serving Our Communities, Standing for Fairness” and “Fair Budget, Fair Contract.”
The kickoff in Chicago drew some 1,300 people with a special appearance by U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky. Rallies in Joliet, Rock Island, Marion, Rockford and Collinsville built momentum as thousands more came out to protest Gov. Rauner’s anti-worker agenda. In Springfield, more than 2,000 people filled the street to march and swamped the rally hall to hear messages from state senators Sam McCann and Andy Manar, AFSCME members on the front lines and representatives from other unions and community groups fighting for a fair budget.
The rallies send a message of solidarity, determination and urgency: The citizens of Illinois need a fair budget to fund the vitally important public services they rely on every day, the men and women of state government who provide those services need a fair union contract, and Governor Rauner must stop holding this state hostage to his demands that would hurt all working people.
While the threats we face have never been graver, these rallies demonstrated that we have never been more united. AFSCME members in state government were joined by other AFSCME members who are university employees, city and county employees, and employees of community nonprofit agencies, as well as scores of AFSCME retirees. We stood arm in arm with other unions, including the IFT, IEA, SEIU, Laborers, FOP, Firefighters, Nurses, building trades and more. In every city, religious leaders, community groups and human services providers stood with us and echoed our call. And dozens of elected officials—from Congress to the Illinois General Assembly and on to city councils and county boards—came out to show their support.
The rallies laid a strong foundation to build on toward the goals of a fair state budget and fair contract for all state employees.
Click here to watch an exiting video compilation of all the rallies.