I believe in the union strongly. My family has a better life because I have better pay, medical insurance and job security. And I think union jobs make better employees—with a union we have a voice. It’s a win-win for everybody.

Wrongly accused, AFSCME Local 424 member Jason Klingeman lost his job. With the union's help he was reinstated with back pay and benefits. “If it wasn’t for our union, I wouldn’t be here," he said. "We have an awesome union. I am 1,000 percent pleased.”

In favor of billionaire CEOs and corporate interests in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, the U.S. Supreme Court holds that fair-share fees in the public sector violate the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Bruce Rauner visited a campus of Western Illinois University—where hundreds of AFSCME Local 417 members work—on June 14. He failed to mention the damage he did to the WIU over the last three years.

The 4th District Appellate Court heard oral arguments on June 13 in AFSCME Council 31’s appeal of the Labor Board’s decision backing Gov. Bruce Rauner’s claim that the parties were at impasse in negotiations between the state of Illinois and AFSCME.

Get the facts about the lawsuit that aims to take away the freedom of working people to join together in strong unions, Janus v. AFSCME Council 31.

For the first time since taking office, Gov. Rauner signed a full budget, on time, on June 4 after the General Assembly adopted it with strong bipartisan support on May 31.

After enactment of state budget, Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch sent a letter to Gov. Rauner calling on him “to immediately direct your agencies to prepare vouchers for the full amount of back wages owed to employees both active and retired.”

HB 4290, the bill providing funding for wages owed to state employees since 2011, passed out of the Illinois House of Representatives with a veto-proof majority on May 24 and out of the Senate with unanimous support on May 30.

"I've worked for the City of Chicago for more than 20 years. I’m happy to be here. I see myself as employed by the people of Chicago and that’s who I want to do my best for, because I appreciate the opportunity to do this work."