Brothers and Sisters,
I would like to congratulate everyone on their perseverance this week. We have worked hard to let legislators know that new revenues are needed to prevent cuts to services and layoffs in the State of Illinois. Monday, the local union can account for 68 people making calls, and Tuesday we can account for 57 people making calls to their state representatives and senators. Wednesday, our email campaign sent emails for 134 of our employees. We wrapped up the week with 110 people signing faxes which were sent to the appropriate legislators. The last leg of our campaign will have your executive board members bringing around a petition to be signed which will be delivered to Springfield next week. Thanks for your support.
Sincerely,
Travis Houzenga
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
PSA Option 8(e) Employees
Today, AFSCME Council 31 won an election for SPSA Option 8(e) employees. The vote was AFSCME - 17; ISEA/LIUNA - 2; No Representation - 2.
In addition, we have been recently certified for the Data Processing Supervisors I, II, III, BCCS Program Managers, SPSA Option 8(p), and Statistical Research Supervisors.
In addition, we have been recently certified for the Data Processing Supervisors I, II, III, BCCS Program Managers, SPSA Option 8(p), and Statistical Research Supervisors.
TDF Budget Campaign
Brothers and Sisters,
Thanks for your participation to date. We have been busy the last few days making phone calls and sending emails to support raising additional revenue in our state to protect services, jobs, and our benefits. Today, 108 people from our local made their voices known by 3 pm. Lets see if we can duplicate that tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Travis Houzenga
Thanks for your participation to date. We have been busy the last few days making phone calls and sending emails to support raising additional revenue in our state to protect services, jobs, and our benefits. Today, 108 people from our local made their voices known by 3 pm. Lets see if we can duplicate that tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Travis Houzenga
Brothers and Sisters,
Our fight for a fair budget is well underway. But we can't let up.
I wanted to let you know that, even as members like you are working hard on the ground--reaching out to your legislators by phone and e-mail--Council 31 has taken to the air.
We're on both broadcast and cable TV in Springfield--where the lawmakers are--with our first ad. We have two radio spots running in rotation. And there's more to come.
Every bit of it is meant to drive home our message to lawmakers: Our jobs and the public services we provide are critically important. Our communities count on us every day. And right now, we're counting on legislators to do what's right--raise the new revenue needed to prevent harmful cuts and layoffs.
At the end of this note, you'll find links to see and hear the ads for yourself. When you're finished, take a minute to make sure your co-workers are all signed up for this e-mail list by clicking Tell A Friend below. And as always, remember to visit the AFSCME Council 31 Web site for the latest news.
"No One Is Here To Take Your Call" (TV - YouTube link)
"Recession" (radio - mp3)
"Emergency Responders" (radio - mp3)
Finally, be sure to stay involved with the grassroots program being implemented by your local union.
In solidarity,
Henry Bayer
Executive DirectorAFSCME Council 31
http://www.afscme31.org
Our fight for a fair budget is well underway. But we can't let up.
I wanted to let you know that, even as members like you are working hard on the ground--reaching out to your legislators by phone and e-mail--Council 31 has taken to the air.
We're on both broadcast and cable TV in Springfield--where the lawmakers are--with our first ad. We have two radio spots running in rotation. And there's more to come.
Every bit of it is meant to drive home our message to lawmakers: Our jobs and the public services we provide are critically important. Our communities count on us every day. And right now, we're counting on legislators to do what's right--raise the new revenue needed to prevent harmful cuts and layoffs.
At the end of this note, you'll find links to see and hear the ads for yourself. When you're finished, take a minute to make sure your co-workers are all signed up for this e-mail list by clicking Tell A Friend below. And as always, remember to visit the AFSCME Council 31 Web site for the latest news.
"No One Is Here To Take Your Call" (TV - YouTube link)
"Recession" (radio - mp3)
"Emergency Responders" (radio - mp3)
Finally, be sure to stay involved with the grassroots program being implemented by your local union.
In solidarity,
Henry Bayer
Executive DirectorAFSCME Council 31
http://www.afscme31.org
Monday, May 18, 2009
Brothers and Sisters,
Legislators can't avoid the ugly reality of the $12 billion state budget deficit any longer. Those who say the budget should be balanced by cuts instead of tax increases are on the spot. In a speech Monday the Governor made clear what a "doomsday" budget--one with no new revenues--would look like.
In addition to devastating cuts to K-12 and higher education, health care, transportation, local government and more, that doomsday scenario includes the closure of all four state veterans homes, half the state parks and all the historic sites, 1 in every 5 DHS field offices, and six prisons and youth centers--coupled with the release of 6,500 inmates. As Governor Quinn himself said, "to legislators who think we have to cut, maybe they can take those prisoners home to their own houses.
"The doomsday budget would slash state agencies by 37 percent, forcing thousands upon thousands of state-employee layoffs and decimating the services we provide.
There's not a moment to waste. We have to say NO WAY to doomsday, stand up for a fair budget--and demand that our legislators join us.
That's why AFSCME Council 31 launched our aggressive Fair Solutions for a Fair Budget campaign. Thousands of union members and retirees already attended Fair Budget forums and made their voices heard. Now we're turning up the heat.
This week, it is critical that you call, e-mail and fax your legislators. Tell senators and representatives what you do, why your work is vitally needed, and that they must support the new taxes necessary to prevent the doomsday plan's deep service cuts and thousands of layoffs. Your local union stewards and officers are putting this outreach program into action in worksites everywhere, so see them for more information.
And AFSCME is launching a comprehensive media campaign to take our message directly to legislators while they're at the state capitol in Springfield this week. That campaign will include TV and radio ads and a new interactive Web site.
As a member of the AFSCME Council 31 Action Center, you'll be among the first to know of new developments. Please take a moment to click "Tell A Friend" below--and let all your co-workers know how they can get updates like this one, plus important action alerts.
In solidarity,
Henry Bayer
Executive DirectorAFSCME Council 31
http://www.afscme31.org
Legislators can't avoid the ugly reality of the $12 billion state budget deficit any longer. Those who say the budget should be balanced by cuts instead of tax increases are on the spot. In a speech Monday the Governor made clear what a "doomsday" budget--one with no new revenues--would look like.
In addition to devastating cuts to K-12 and higher education, health care, transportation, local government and more, that doomsday scenario includes the closure of all four state veterans homes, half the state parks and all the historic sites, 1 in every 5 DHS field offices, and six prisons and youth centers--coupled with the release of 6,500 inmates. As Governor Quinn himself said, "to legislators who think we have to cut, maybe they can take those prisoners home to their own houses.
"The doomsday budget would slash state agencies by 37 percent, forcing thousands upon thousands of state-employee layoffs and decimating the services we provide.
There's not a moment to waste. We have to say NO WAY to doomsday, stand up for a fair budget--and demand that our legislators join us.
That's why AFSCME Council 31 launched our aggressive Fair Solutions for a Fair Budget campaign. Thousands of union members and retirees already attended Fair Budget forums and made their voices heard. Now we're turning up the heat.
This week, it is critical that you call, e-mail and fax your legislators. Tell senators and representatives what you do, why your work is vitally needed, and that they must support the new taxes necessary to prevent the doomsday plan's deep service cuts and thousands of layoffs. Your local union stewards and officers are putting this outreach program into action in worksites everywhere, so see them for more information.
And AFSCME is launching a comprehensive media campaign to take our message directly to legislators while they're at the state capitol in Springfield this week. That campaign will include TV and radio ads and a new interactive Web site.
As a member of the AFSCME Council 31 Action Center, you'll be among the first to know of new developments. Please take a moment to click "Tell A Friend" below--and let all your co-workers know how they can get updates like this one, plus important action alerts.
In solidarity,
Henry Bayer
Executive DirectorAFSCME Council 31
http://www.afscme31.org
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