AFSCME Members Meet To Discuss Possible Illinois Strike
From the Bloomington Pantagraph
Rank-and-file members of the state’s largest employee union packed a conference room in a state office building Wednesday to hear the latest update on stalled contract talks.
With the possibility of a strike by 40,000 members of the state workforce looming, the hour-long session was among dozens being held around the state in recent days by members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union.
“There are some 80 AFSCME local unions that represent state employees, with hundreds upon hundreds of worksites across Illinois. All are holding similar meetings to make sure members are fully informed about what’s happening at the bargaining table,” union spokesman Anders Lindall said.
The new round of meetings comes as AFSCME has begun cautioning members that they may be asked to vote to authorize a strike if there is no movement in the talks.
On Wednesday, Gov. Pat Quinn, who terminated the state’s contract with AFSCME in November, told reporters he hopes to avert a walkout.
“We’re negotiating. Everybody understands it’s a tough time economically for our state. I’m hopeful that we can get a good agreement that’s good for the taxpayers and good for the workers who work so hard for the public,” the governor said at an event in Springfield.
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From the Bloomington Pantagraph
Rank-and-file members of the state’s largest employee union packed a conference room in a state office building Wednesday to hear the latest update on stalled contract talks.
With the possibility of a strike by 40,000 members of the state workforce looming, the hour-long session was among dozens being held around the state in recent days by members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union.
“There are some 80 AFSCME local unions that represent state employees, with hundreds upon hundreds of worksites across Illinois. All are holding similar meetings to make sure members are fully informed about what’s happening at the bargaining table,” union spokesman Anders Lindall said.
The new round of meetings comes as AFSCME has begun cautioning members that they may be asked to vote to authorize a strike if there is no movement in the talks.
On Wednesday, Gov. Pat Quinn, who terminated the state’s contract with AFSCME in November, told reporters he hopes to avert a walkout.
“We’re negotiating. Everybody understands it’s a tough time economically for our state. I’m hopeful that we can get a good agreement that’s good for the taxpayers and good for the workers who work so hard for the public,” the governor said at an event in Springfield.
Read more in our daily News Update...