CGH Medical Center in Sterling has been found in violation of state labor law—again. The public hospital illegally retaliated against employees who engaged in lawful activities and wrongfully fired a union supporter.

Some Illinois AFSCME members have received communications from the so-called “Freedom Foundation,” or “Opt Out Today," a group that seeks to stop workers from collectively fighting to protect pensions, raise wages, or improve protections and benefits.

CGH Medical Center violated state labor law by instructing workers how to revoke their union membership, according to a recommended decision issued late March by an administrative law judge of the Illinois Labor Relations Board.

Because of AFSCME’s efforts, direct support professionals (DSPs) and other frontline employees at state-funded disability agencies have seen their wages go up an average of more than $5 per hour over the past five budget cycles.

More than 300 building, grounds and dining services employees of Illinois State University—members of AFSCME local 1110—overwhelmingly voted to approve the terms of an agreement reached last week on the brink of a campus-wide strike.

The AFSCME Local 1110 bargaining committee announced on April 14 that it has reached a tentative agreement with Illinois State University that advances the goals the union has been trying so hard to achieve at the bargaining table.

AFSCME members at community disability agencies are standing up for a desperately needed wage increase in this year’s state budget—with language requiring employers to pass the raise directly to frontline workers.

When a massive tornado swept through the Midwest on December 10, AFSCME Local 799 members at the Madison County Emergency Management Agency helped manage logistics for the rescue effort.

AFSCME Local 1216 members at Loretto Hospital uncovered a system payroll error—more than 100 nurses had been underpaid to the tune of $148,000. Back pay returned to individual employees ranged from a few dollars to more than $10,000.

“I could see the angst in her eyes,” AFSCME Local 2953 executive board member and chief steward Serbekian Minas said. “How can I not help this woman as much as I can and go the extra mile?"