Truth Squad tracks Quinn to Decatur

Gov. Pat Quinn's visit to Decatur on Tuesday didn't go as planned - a surprise AFSCME Quinn Truth Squad appearance forced the governor to make a quick exit and skip out on questions on his plans to close Decatur ATC and other DOC/DJJ facilities.

As The Pantagraph and local TV outlets reported, dozens of AFSCME members showed up to Quinn's event at Richland Community College. The governor was met with a silent protest as members held signs urging him to respect state workers, drop his plan for disastrous cuts to DOC/DJJ facilities and honor union contracts.

"It was very powerful," said Council 31 staff representative Chris Hooser. "The people in attendance, instead of looking at the governor, were looking at us."

AFSCME members - representing Locals 2856, 632, 674 and Chapter 31 retirees - also urged the governor to preserve pensions for state workers who have paid their fair share into the state pension fund for decades.

Local media reports noted that as soon as Quinn was done speaking, he made a hasty exit to a vehicle waiting outside for him and did not take questions from AFSCME members or the media.

AFSCME's Quinn Truth Squad has followed the governor to public events throughout the past year, spreading the word about the Quinn administration's disrespectful attitude toward state workers, which only worsened when Quinn, in an unprecedented move, decided in November to terminate the contract of 40,000 AFSCME members who provide valuable state services.