On December 29 Arbitrator Edwin Benn ruled against AFSCME members in the interest arbitration regarding the State’s plan to require COVID vaccinations for employees in IDOC and IDJJ.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear four cases aimed at expanding the scope of its 2018 ruling in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31.

With the theme of Better Together, AFSCME Council 31’s 22nd biennial convention focused on all that has been achieved through solidarity over the last two years—and the importance of staying united to overcome the challenges ahead.

This memorial video of AFSCME members who we have lost since our last convention in 2019 was aired at convention on October 15, 2021 and includes a beautiful performance by Renee Barnes who is on the staff of our international union.

AFSCME members have been on the front lines of this pandemic since Day One and we’re still going strong. Don’t miss this video that premiered at the Council 31 convention on October 16.

A member of AFSCME Local 799 and a Madison County Probation Officer, this AFSCME member makes a difference every day.

In the spring state legislative session, the AFSCME Council 31 lobbying team secured passage of a bill that helps certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in the Illinois Department of Corrections maintain their certification.

Three Child Protection Specialists in the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services share their stories of protecting the well-being of vulnerable children despite the risks to their own health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Miley Worker is winner of a national 2021 AFSCME Family Scholarship and the daughter of AFSCME Council 31 Executive Board member and Local 993 President Tim Worker.

Fully vaccinated individuals are five times less likely to get infected, more than ten times less likely to die of COVID than unvaccinated individuals and more than ten times less likely to be hospitalized.