Through their union, AFSCME, human services employees are speaking out against a push by the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) to close its office—known as a family community resource center—in Havana, the Mason County seat in central Illinois.

AFSCME’s anti-privatization efforts halted the city from outsourcing the non-emergency 311 center in Chicago, paving the way for new and improved services. Now the city-run operation is being hailed as a national model.

Bruce Rauner is out the door. That’s good news for the countless Illinois citizens who were grievously harmed by his vengeance politics, especially the thousands of state employees who were the prime targets of his animus.

On Fox Chicago, the union defended pensions amid renewed attacks by politicians and corporate front groups.

Outgoing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel called to wipe out the state Constitution's pension protection clause. The Illinois AFL-CIO and Chicago Federation of Labor were quick to stand together and say NO!