In a second round of voting on a new union contract with the State of Illinois, AFSCME members resoundingly affirmed the ratification of the tentative agreement reached in late February.

Illinois House Democratic Leader Lou Lang ripped the extreme Chicago Tribune editorial board that backs pension-slashing Senate Bill 1, and the State Journal-Register editorialized for the union-supported compromise Senate Bill 2404.

More than 100 direct-support workers and allies lobbied lawmakers in Springfield to raise wages and improve care for those with developmental disabilities. See inside for photos and news coverage.

AFSCME and other unions are speaking out against Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to eliminate subsidized health care for most city retirees.

SB 2404, pension legislation endorsed by the We Are One Illinois union coalition, passed the Senate with overwhelming, bipartisan support on Thursday – calls are now needed to the House.

Legislation to pay state employees the back wages they are owed under the previous contract has been introduced. Make a call today to ensure it gets passed!

Pension-slashing legislation passed the state House, but hope remains for a fair, constitutional solution out of the Senate.

The AFSCME State Bargaining Committee has initiated an immediate re-vote on the newly-negotiated state of Illinois union contract because a condition of the settlement has not been completely met.

One of the biggest tax loopholes in Illinois allows multinational corporations to avoid taxes on money they make overseas – some $386 million annually.

Efforts to put the brakes on privatization in the City of Chicago have run into a major obstacle – the City Council’s Rules Committee. Call Committee Chair Dick Mell at 312-744-6825.

Thanks to obstruction by Republicans in Congress, massive federal spending cuts are going into effect – and the impact on state and local government employees in Illinois could be substantial.

Workers killed or injured on the job will be remembered this weekend at events throughout the state in observance of Workers’ Memorial Day.

School paraprofessionals in Rockford are speaking out to secure a contract that will help lift them all out of poverty.

Legislation that would close $445 million in wasteful corporate tax loopholes has been introduced with the backing of a dozen lawmakers in the House and Senate.

President Obama has announced a bipartisan group of nominations aimed at allowing the National Labor Relations Board to resume its work – but GOP obstruction threatens to derail the plan.

Attorneys in an AFSCME-backed lawsuit on retiree health care have filed an appeal in the Fourth District Appellate Court seeking to overturn a Circuit Court ruling that dismissed the suit.

Charles and David Koch – the wealthy brothers who have spent millions supporting anti-union candidates and causes – are out to establish a beachhead in state capitols, including in Illinois.

AFSCME members can save money by going with AT&T Wireless and support a company employing 45,000 unionized workers.

In Illinois retailers reap big rewards-- over $160 million in tax breaks – for merely obeying the law.

Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation that strips thousands of state employees of their right to union representation.