Category: Cook County Employees

Tens of thousands of AFSCME members have been at their worksites daily throughout the pandemic in cities, counties, universities, school districts, and nonprofit agencies all across the state, performing work deemed essential.

AFSCME joins in mourning the unconscionable death of George Floyd and in demanding justice for his family and an end to the contagion of racism that continues to beset our country.

Now that bargaining is over, AFSCME members at RPS 205 are staying united during the COVID-19 crisis to help their school community—and beyond.

Cedric Alexander Psy. D. is a law enforcement expert with over 40 years of experience in public service. He is the author of In Defense of Public Service: How 22 Million Government Workers Will Save Our Republic.

AFSCME Local 46 members at East Moline Correctional Center is making a positive difference in the local community during the coronavirus pandemic by donating directly to area food banks and pantries.

Every time we turn around, some politician or pundit is launching an attack on the modest pensions of public employees. But anti-pension pols go strangely silent when their big business pals go out the door with exorbitant pensions.

“Public service workers deserve our thanks for their work during this crisis.” —Bob Reiter, Chicago Federation of Labor president

Frontline public service workers—like tens of thousands of AFSCME members across Illinois—are putting their lives at risk to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Tell Congress to do its part to fund the front lines.

April 21 is National Library Workers Day. Library workers are facing unprecedented circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic and AFSCME members at Illinois libraries are rising to the challenge.

When the coronavirus hit Illinois, Menard Correctional Center was poised to help. Participants in the prison's industries program are helping produce thousands of masks for state use during the crisis.