News
Nov 29, 2023
New! Progress towards fair pay at NIU

Six weeks after Northern Illinois University support staff went public with their frustration over low pay at work and long delays at the bargaining table, they’ve won a new union contract that makes significant strides toward improving wages.

Nov 27, 2023
New! Severe assaults on employees in two state prisons

An educator and a correctional officer were brutally beaten at Sheridan CC. At Joliet Treatment Center, a correctional officer was assaulted—and short-staffing was a contributing factor.

Nov 27, 2023
New! Elk Grove library workers win with help of community

When AFSCME members at the Elk Grove Village Public Library sent their bargaining committee into negotiations in March, they were aiming high. With the help of their community, they achieved their goals.

Nov 27, 2023
New! AFSCME intervenes to block sale of DeKalb nursing home

The sale of the DeKalb County Nursing Home to a for-profit buyer has been blocked by a state review board after new light was shed on the questionable background and ethics of its would-be for-profit buyer.

Nov 21, 2023
New! Local 2040 members take bus driver shortage into their own hands

A novel training program spearheaded by AFSCME results in the filling of all driver vacancies

Nov 17, 2023
New! Niles library employees win first contract

Employees of the Niles-Maine District Library have their first union contract, and along with it, significant wage increases and—for the first time—paid parental leave.

Nov 02, 2023
New! Newberry Library employees win first contract

More than 60 employees of the Newberry Library—who formed their union, Newberry Workers United/AFSCME, one year ago—have overwhelmingly voted to ratify their first union contract.

Oct 24, 2023
New! One Strong Union: AFSCME Council 31 23rd Biennial Convention Recap

More than 500 delegates, alternates, and guests met in Springfield on October 19-21 for Council 31’s 23rd Biennial Convention under the banner of “One Strong Union” to chart our union’s path forward over the next two years.

Sep 25, 2023
New! St. Charles Public Library workers win first contract

For the 54 AFSCME members at the St. Charles Public Library, their first contract ticks all the boxes—and then some.

Sep 25, 2023
New! Push is on to improve Tier 2 pensions

AFSCME members and Council 31 legislative and policy staff made their voices heard before the state House Personnel and Pensions Committee at a hearing on improvements to Tier 2 pensions.

Aug 15, 2023
Art Institute of Chicago, School of the Art Institute Chicago employees ratify union contract

More than 500 employees of the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) have ratified their first union contract.

Sep 25, 2023
New! Spread the Word: Public Service Matters!

AFSCME members like us know how important the work we do is. And we know how important it is to have adequate staffing levels to be able to fulfill our mission. So we need to spread the word: There are good union jobs available serving the public good!

Jul 28, 2023
Museum of Science and Industry workers join AFSCME

Workers at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry officially formed their union, Museum of Science and Industry Workers United, with AFSCME Council 31.

Jul 28, 2023
Local 1275 brings politics into play

Local 1275 recruited and campaigned for school board candidates who were more sympathetic to their problems. They all won—and the result was a contract extension that properly values the work they do.

Jul 28, 2023
AFSCME offers roadmap to reopen Chicago’s closed mental health clinics

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s commitment to reopen previously closed mental health clinics and begin building a new and better system of public mental health services can be kept in the mayor’s first term, according to a new report from Council 31.

Jul 07, 2023
We Did It! New state contract ratified

The new contract for AFSCME members in state government was ratified by a resounding 99% vote.

Jun 21, 2023
Waukegan Public Library workers win stronger rights in first contract

For the new AFSCME members at the Waukegan Public Library, the first chapter in the story of their union ends on a high note: They’ve won a first contract guaranteeing them a strong voice on the job and fair wages.

May 30, 2023
Peggy Notabaert Nature Museum workers win union election with AFSCME

In the sixth big win in the past year and a half for Chicago-area cultural workers organizing with AFSCME, employees of the Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and its off-site collections facility won their union election.

May 30, 2023
Whiteside Co. health workers determined to win fair contract

The 90 employees of the public health department who formed their union with AFSCME in December 2021 have been at the bargaining table for more than a year.

May 30, 2023
SIUE workers find solidarity in contract fight

The administrative staff of AFSCME Local 2887 and the building service workers of Local 2232 are spreading solidarity across campus, standing arm in arm to support each other’s fights for better working conditions.

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