* AFSCME Council 31 memo to state employee members…
Important Updates for State Employees
Rigid Mandate Won’t Work
More and more employers are turning to vaccination mandates in the epic battle to contain the spread of COVID-19. Tyson Foods and United Airlines are the latest Illinois-based companies to announce that employees must get vaccinated or be fired.
This week Governor Pritzker took a step down that road, announcing that vaccinations would be required for all employees in the state’s congregate facilities in DOC, DHS, DVA and DJJ, citing emergency conditions that not only jeopardize employee health, but that of individuals in the state’s custody or care.
The governor left open how this requirement would be implemented, stating that the details would be worked out in bargaining with the unions representing state employees. AFSCME has already contacted CMS to initiate those negotiations.
AFSCME has already made clear to the Administration that our union opposes a rigid, universal vaccination mandate. Our fundamental priority is to protect the lives and health of every union member and the people they serve. That’s why, since the first availability of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, AFSCME has worked to educate and encourage union members to be vaccinated in order to protect themselves, their families, co-workers and communities.
We have been working collaboratively with state agencies over the past months to increase vaccination rates and reduce the incidence of COVID in veterans’ homes, correctional facilities and care centers. And those efforts have been making steady progress.
In fact, in many of these state facilities vaccination rates now exceed those in the surrounding communities. More importantly, the numbers of COVID cases have declined dramatically in every one of these settings. In fact, some facilities have had no new cases at all—even with the arrival of the highly contagious Delta variant.
In other words, the combination of education about vaccine efficacy, rigorous testing, and appropriate protective measures, such as masking, has in fact been highly effective in reducing the spread of the virus in these facilities. Moreover, it is clear that the impacted agencies could do much more to contain the virus through such proactive measures.
First and foremost, they could reverse the extremely irresponsible plan to terminate what’s been called “COVID time” which our union strongly opposes (see more information below).
Vaccinations should not be seen as punitive measures, but rather as protective ones. AFSCME believes that more time and effort are needed to raise vaccination rates through voluntary action. There’s a need for more education—both about the highly reliable science on which the vaccines are based and about the threat that unvaccinated individuals pose to others—as well as incentive programs that have greatly increased vaccination rates in other sectors.
Before its recent action to institute a vaccination mandate, United Airlines already had a 90% vaccination rate among its pilots and an 80% vaccination rate among flight attendants. One factor credited with this strong uptake is an agreement reached with the airline’s unions for an additional day off for all vaccinated employees.
Employees in the state’s congregate facilities have been on the job every day throughout this pandemic, putting their own health and safety at risk to assure public safety and care for vulnerable individuals. In addition to the danger posed by the coronavirus, they have continued to face the dangers posed daily by assaults from patients and offenders and other constant stressors in the workplace. Just over the past few weeks, a nurse at Elgin MHC was beaten nearly to death by a patient, several officers at Pontiac CC were sent to the hospital as a result of injuries suffered in an attack by inmates, and an officer at Shawnee CC committed suicide in the facility parking lot.
There are other paths the state could follow that would not serve to increase tensions and stress in the way that a hard mandate would do. President Biden laid out such a path last week for most federal government employees: All employees must either be fully vaccinated OR be regularly tested. In fact, this is the approach that some agencies in state government are already taking. Such a flexible and balanced approach is preferable to a rigid universal vaccination requirement—and AFSCME will fight for it in the negotiations set to get underway.
Don’t End COVID Time-Off Policy!
Over AFSCME’s strong objections, the State intends to proceed with its plan to end “COVID Time” effective Monday, August 9. The COVID Time policy allows individuals who contract COVID-19 (or are under a health department quarantine) to have paid time off without using their own benefit time.
Under the revised policy, employees will have to use their own benefit time if they become sick with COVID and would have the option of filing a workers’ compensation claim to recoup that time.
AFSCME believes that “COVID Time” is a key means of helping to contain COVID outbreaks, especially in congregate settings such as prisons and veterans’ homes.
In a letter to CMS Chief of Labor Relations, Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch stressed that “AFSCME is very concerned that requiring any employee—whether vaccinated or unvaccinated—to use their own benefit time if they contract COVID could contribute to a heightened risk for all employees,” pointing out that employees who do not have any benefit time on the books may end up coming to work sick and infecting their coworkers.
Our union intends to make the restoration of COVID Time a top priority in the negotiations over the proposed vaccination mandate.
Hey, AFSCME. You wouldn’t need COVID Time all that much if your members were vaccinated. But if it gets you to agree to a firm vax mandate, so be it, I suppose.
Parents of Chicago Public Schools students will soon have more transparency around misconduct and discipline thanks to the efforts of State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago).
“I think every parent probably expects that fights in schools are going to happen, but that doesn’t mean they should be kept in the dark when they do,” Peters said. “If parents aren’t aware of what’s going on at their kids’ schools, then it’s entirely possible that their kids might not get the treatment for trauma they need simply because their parents don’t know they need it.”
House Bill 15 requires CPS to provide written notification of the situation and circumstances to parents or guardians of students who commit or are victims of misconduct. The law defines misconduct as any incident involving offensive touching, a physical altercation, or the use of violence.
“Requiring the creation, storing, and distribution of a written record will help the parents, students, and schools deal with misconduct in an open and transparent way,” Peters said.
The law is effective immediately. It passed the General Assembly with no opposition and became law Friday.
* I’m going to take much or all of this summer afternoon off. I’ll be back if some big news breaks, but there’s plenty to comment on and don’t forget the live coverage post.
Jamey Johnson will provide the afternoon entertainment…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 16,742 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 64 additional deaths since reporting last Friday, July 30, 2021. More than 75% of Illinois adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and more than 59% of Illinois adults are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,436,353 cases, including 23,503 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Since reporting on Friday, July 30, 2021, laboratories have reported 365,210 specimens for a total of 27,188,772. As of last night, 1,200 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 246 patients were in the ICU and 121 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. Hospitalizations with COVID-19 are up 33% from what was reported last week, those in the ICU with COVID-19 are up 47%, and patients on ventilators almost double in just one week at 95%.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from July 30-August 5, 2021 is 4.6%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from July 30-August 5, 2021 is 5.2%. However, regional 7-day test positivity averages range from 3.1% to 10.3%. http://www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics?regionID=11.
A total of 13,388,013 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 25,244 doses. Since reporting on Friday, July 30, 2021, 176,709 doses were reported administered in Illinois.
*All data are provisional and will change. Additional information and COVID-19 data can be found at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19.
The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge has expressed its opposition to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order that certain law enforcement officers employed at Department of Corrections and Juvenile Justice facilities must receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“We are not opposed to the COVID-19 vaccine, we are opposed to being forced to take it,” said Scot Ward, president of FOP Corrections Lodge 263, whose members work for the Departments of Corrections and Juvenile Justice. “It is always dangerous when the state unilaterally decides to deny the Constitutional rights of targeted groups of citizens, such as our members who work in prisons and juvenile facilities. Even the detainees we supervise are not being forced to take these vaccinations.”
The FOP is also opposed to the move made recently by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who ordered that any Secretary of State employee who cannot provide proof of vaccination must submit to a COVID-19 test every two weeks.
“The government has resorted to ‘vaccine shaming’ its public safety employees rather than convincing them that getting an immunization is the best course of action,” said Terry Trueblood, president of FOP Illinois Secretary of State Lodge 95, whose members include Secretary of State Police officers. “The state should instead do a better job of convincing its citizens, regardless of where they work, to choose to take the vaccine.”
As subscribers know, a much higher percentage of detainees are taking the shots than their guards. And, please, whining about a test every two weeks? C’mon.
Children make up the largest share of new coronavirus cases in McLean County, according to data from the McLean County Health Department (MCHD). […]
People age 18 and under make up close to one-third (32%) of coronavirus cases in the last week in the county. Children under age 12 are still not eligible to receive the COVID vaccine. […]
The county reported 218 coronavirus cases from July 28 to Aug. 4, including 18 new cases on Wednesday. The weekly total includes 58 people ages 1 to 17, three infants under age 1 and seven patients who are 18 years old.
Almost 72,000 children and teens caught Covid-19 last week — a “substantial” increase from a week earlier, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported Tuesday.
The group counted 71,726 new cases from July 22 - 29. That is a “substantial” increase from the nearly 39,000 cases reported a week before, and five times as many kids who were sick at the end of June. The definition of a child varies by state but generally includes those up to age 17 or 18.
Cases don’t automatically translate into hospitalizations with kids. But that’s also becoming a problem.
In announcing mask mandates for schools and daycares this week, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said there’s an increase of COVID-hospitalizations in cases among young people.
“The percent of hospitalizations among those younger than 20 years old tripled from 2.5% to 7.8%,” Ezike said.
In a sign that the delta variant is affecting more children on a daily basis, an 11-month-old girl from the Houston area had to be airlifted to Temple because no pediatric hospitals in Houston would accept her as a transfer patient.
“She needed to be intubated immediately because she was having seizures,” said Patricia Darnauer, the administrator for LBJ Hospital. “We looked at all five major pediatric hospital groups and none [had beds] available.” […]
“The emergency rooms at the major children’s hospitals here in Houston, the largest medical center in the world, are extremely crowded,” said [pediatrician Dr. Christina Propst]. “They are filling, if not full, as are the hospitals and intensive care units.”
Pediatricians across Palm Beach County are taking on social media, television and email to warn of a surge in COVID-19 cases among children both locally and across the state. They are concerned not only about the growing number of cases among the young but also about the severity of illness they are witnessing.
“Locally, we are seeing an alarming rise in children being hospitalized for COVID-19,” pediatrician Dr. Tommy Schechtman wrote in a letter Sunday to his practice’s 15,000 families.
Schechtman said in an interview this week that he was driven to pen the letter by a variety of concerns, including having learned that on one day in the past week, 24 children were admitted to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach.
Lee Health says the number of children admitted to their hospitals for COVID-19 has tripled during this wave of the pandemic. They’ve seen as many as nine children hospitalized with the virus recently - that includes two children who are currently in ICU at Golisano Children’s Hospital. […]
Armando Llechu, Lee Health’s Chief Officer of Hospital Operations says this time with more children getting admitted to Lee Health hospitals.
“I believe the most we had admitted at any one time, was three, and today I believe there are eight. We’ve had as many as nine admitted in the children’s hospital,” he said.
He says those aren’t big numbers, but just to put things into perspective, he says that’s a 300 percent jump in children hospital admissions for COVID-19 compared to the first wave of the virus.
It’s not wildly out of control, but it is a real problem.
Diane Lipscomb, medical director for inpatient pediatrics and the pediatric intensive care unit at Mercy Springfield, said Wednesday that since June 1, and the onset of the delta variant surge, her hospital has seen an increase in pediatric patients who have been critically ill with the virus.
“In prior surges, we had very few children, if at all any admitted,” Lipscomb said. “During this surge, we are now seeing children admitted at the rates of zero to five per day.”
Infections among children
The number of children under the age of 12 testing positive for the virus increased by 113% from June to July in Greene County, according to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.
It’s unclear whether the trend is occurring nationwide because there is no regularly updated, comprehensive data on child Covid-19 cases available. The last report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in early June, found hospitalization rates among children peaked at 2.1 per 100,000 in January 2021. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) releases a weekly report on child cases and hospitalizations, but not all states regularly submit data.
While the [Illinois Department of Public Health] does track the age of those who test positive for COVID-19 over time, the department’s hospital utilization data available on its website does not include the age of the patients.
* And there’s also an unusual summertime problem with RSV…
Hospitals in Rhode Island are seeing an increased number of children being diagnosed with a virus usually only seeing during the winter months.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause at-risk people who become infected to wind up in the hospital.
Hasbro Children’s Hospital tells Target 12 they normally start seeing kids with RSV from November to March, but as of late, there’s been a surge of cases in Florida and more infections are showing up in Rhode Island.
Experts say about a million kids wind up in the hospital every year because of RSV, which infects the lungs and breathing passages.
For most people who get infected, it’s like the common cold, but the virus can cause serious complications for those under the age of 2 and the elderly.
Health officials have expressed concern over a simultaneous rise in delta infections and cases of a respiratory virus known as respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV — a highly contagious, flulike illness that is typically more likely to affect children and older adults.
Cases of RSV have risen gradually since early June, with an even greater spike in the past month, according to data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RSV, which can cause symptoms that include a runny nose, coughing, sneezing and fever, normally begins to spread in the fall, making this summer spike unusual.
In a series of posts on Twitter, Dr. Heather Haq, a pediatrician at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, described an increase in both coronavirus and RSV hospitalizations. Haq is also the chief medical officer for the Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatric AIDS Initiative at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Kids previously tended to do much better at surviving a COVID-19 infection, but deaths are also popping up.
Two children with COVID-19 died over the weekend, according to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
One of the children was a patient at the hospital, said Le Bonheur’s Dr. Nick Hysmith, a pediatric infectious disease specialist. Another child died during transit to the hospital, he said. The child was coming to the regional hospital from a neighboring hospital.
* So, it would be really helpful if news media outlets like the Rockford Register Star stopped glorifying crackpots…
“We are vehemently against mandating masks,” said Jim Mcllroy, founder of Elevate & Inspire, a parents group that held an “unmask our children” rally last month outside the Winnebago County Health Department.
“We are 100% in favor of parental choice. Accountability and responsibility of the children is something that is in the hands of parents, and that is not something that should be in the hands of the governor. It should not be in the hands of the mayor, it should not be in the hands of Dr. (Sandra) Martel from the Winnebago County Health Department,” he said.
So, no local or state public health rules for kids, eh? What could possibly go wrong?
Rod Blagojevich used to joke that “he barely knew where the law library was” as he earned his law degree from Pepperdine University amid surfing the Pacific Ocean and mingling with movie stars in Malibu.
Judging by the lawsuit the disgraced former Illinois governor filed this week challenging a ban on him running for state and local office, Blagojevich still has a penchant for skipping his legal homework, said experts who dismissed his action as baseless.
“This is a frivolous lawsuit,” said Ann Lousin, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Illinois at Chicago law school whose lengthy legal background includes helping draft the state’s constitution and chairing the Chicago Bar Association’s constitutional law committee. “This lawsuit is not going anywhere.”
* And, perhaps I’m being too cynical, but I’m starting to wonder if this is really just about adding a dramatic element to the “documentary” being produced by ABC7, which initially “broke” the story on the disgraced former governor’s lawsuit…
A film crew was on hand for the news conference Monday; Blagojevich would not say who they were, but one crew member shared that he’s with ABC News, which is producing a documentary on Blagojevich set to air in the fall.
I never thought I could get even more disgusted by this guy, or by some of the coverage he receives. And yet, here we are.
Governor JB Pritzker and State Senator Dale Fowler visited the southern tip of Illinois Thursday to announce a new milestone in the effort to construct a Port District in Cairo.
In April, the Alexander-Cairo Port District completed a project labor agreement with the Illinois AFL-CIO to allow for more than 500 local Illinois union workers to fill the jobs created by construction of the port.
On Thursday, Labor Local 773 signed on to provide workers for the project.
Alexander-Cairo Port District Chairman Larry Klein says they’re currently going through the engineering and design work.
“Because anyone in the construction trades realizes you have to have a floor plan before you start constructing anything. So, when we get the floor plan designed that’s when we’re going to put all the people here today to work. That will tickle me to death.” […]
80% of U.S. inland barge traffic travels past Cairo.
When state Rep. Carol Ammons was suddenly replaced on new Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch’s legislative leadership team in late May, the demotion included a roughly $18,000 pay cut for the Urbana Democrat.
But a few weeks later, Welch eased Ammons’ financial pain by appointing her chairwoman of a newly created Small Business, Tech Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee, a post that restores more than half of the money she lost.
Records in the House clerk’s office, however, show that Ammons, who receives a $10,574 stipend for her role as chairwoman, is the only member of the new committee to which “at this time, no legislation has been assigned.” […]
The date of Welch’s appointment — the last day of June — allowed Ammons to be paid her stipend as if she had held the position for the entire month.
By tradition, members with her seniority are either put in leadership or given a committee to chair. She was kicked out of leadership, so she was given a committee. The timing is a bit odd, of course, but the appointment itself really isn’t. And the fact that nobody else was appointed to the committee surely sparked some interest. Ammons didn’t show up for June’s special session or participate remotely. A little “member management” may have been in order.
Local state Rep. Carol Ammons’ new Illinois House committee no longer has no members or pending business.
Following last week’s report about the June 30 appointment of Ammons, D-Urbana, as chairwoman of the new House Committee on Small Business, Tech Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Speaker Chris Welch appointed nine Democrats to serve on the panel, including state Rep. Sue Scherer of Decatur. […]
“The caucus was contacted July 1, long before any of your inquiries, to get in touch with our chief of staff if they’d like to be on the committee. Time must be allowed for that, and as already mentioned, there was a lot of interest,” said [said Speaker Welch’s spokesperson Jaclyn Driscoll], who contended that “appointing members to a committee takes longer than one day.” […]
So far, no Republicans have been assigned to the committee by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, who wrote a letter Monday to Ammons that expressed surprise about the committee’s sudden creation and sought advice on the kinds of people best suited to serve. […]
“Without a clear definition of what the work of your newly created committee will be, it is difficult to appoint members that can bring their expertise to this topic … whatever it may be,” he wrote to Ammons.
That was one snarky letter, so click here and read the rest. Leader Durkin vowed not to appoint any Republicans to the committee until he hears back.
* We talked about Greg Hinz’s interview with Kirk Dillard the other day about a possible run for governor. Since then, he’s talked with Rachel Hinton…
Kirk Dillard, who is currently the chairman of the Regional Transportation Agency’s board of directors, said in a statement Wednesday people “whom I respect and whose opinions I value reached out to me” and asked him to consider running to “restore political balance to Illinois and make it safe and function well again.
“They also believe I am a Republican who can win a general election as the ‘Sun Times’ once opined,” Dillard’s statement continued. “I owe it to them, the people of Illinois and to my family to carefully listen. Currently, I am laser focused on getting the northeastern Illinois transportation system through a pandemic.” […]
“With all due respect, what Illinois needs is not yet another member of the political class running our state,” Rabine’s statement continued. “We know what the failed policies of the political class has done to this state and voters are tired of it. […]
“The political establishment will have their choice and the regular people will have theirs,” Joe DeBose, Bailey’s spokesman, said. “If [Dillard] decides to join the race, I have a feeling the result will be the same as the last two times he ran.”
“People whom I respect and whose opinions I value reached out to me,” Dillard told the Daily Herald Wednesday.
“They asked me to consider running to give Illinois political balance and to make it safe and work again. These leaders think I am a Republican who can win a general election and govern effectively. I owe it to them, the people of Illinois and my family to carefully listen.” […]
It’s early in the game, but “I think our state needs governance,” said former Republican state Rep. Grant Wehrli of Naperville. “Personally, I think, right now, we have somebody who’d rather be king than governor.”
But “I don’t think there’s a candidate out there right now I’m ready to rally behind,” although “I’m intrigued by Kirk Dillard’s name.”
Wehrli seemed far more interested in picking fights than governing when he was in the House, but maybe he’s changed. I dunno.
The U.S. Census Bureau will hold a news conference to discuss the release of the first local level results from the 2020 Census. States use these data on race, Hispanic origin, and the voting-age population to redraw the boundaries of their congressional and state legislative districts.
The news conference will provide initial analysis of the first local level results from the 2020 Census on population change, race, ethnicity, the age 18 and over population, and housing occupancy status.
A live Q&A session with Census Bureau subject-matter experts will immediately follow the briefing for credentialed media who have RSVPed.
When:
Thursday, August 12, at 1 p.m. EDT
Who:
Ron Jarmin, acting director, U.S. Census Bureau
James Whitehorne, chief, Redistricting & Voting Rights Data Office, U.S. Census Bureau
Nicholas Jones, director and senior advisor of Race and Ethnic Research and Outreach, Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau
Marc Perry, senior demographer, Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau
Michael C. Cook, Sr., chief, Public Information Office, U.S. Census Bureau (moderator)
The legislature held off drawing the congressional maps until this data was available. It’s also possible that some state legislative districts will be redrawn if the data highlights important errors.
We wouldn’t be facing such atrocious maps had not the state high court in 2016 blocked a petition signed by 700,000 voters. The ballot proposal would have allowed voters to determine if they wanted an independent commission to draw maps, without partisan gerrymandering.
But the court, in a vote of four Democrats over three Republicans, blocked this opportunity. The majority opinion was the most contrived bit of jurisprudence since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision, a catalyst for the Civil War.
The head of the AFL-CIO said on Tuesday that the labor organization supports vaccine mandates for workers.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka outlined the group’s position during an interview on C-SPAN’s “The Washington Journal,” explaining why such mandates are important.
“Yes we do,” Trumka said, when asked if the AFL-CIO supports vaccine mandates. “If you are coming back into the workplace, you have to know what’s around you.”
AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka, one of the country’s most powerful labor leaders and an influential voice in many Washington debates, died suddenly at 72, according to the federation.
Trumka, a third-generation coal miner who rose to power through the United Mine Workers, had become one of the most powerful labor leaders in the country and a key ally of Democrats in Washington, having worked in some capacity with every Democratic White House the last 30 years. […]
He has played an important part in debates during both Democratic and Republican administrations, playing a key role during the Trump administration’s effort to rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement. Democrats only signed onto the pact after Trumka helped negotiate key changes.
As labor issues took center stage in the Biden administration, Trumka’s profile — and sway — was perhaps at its peak. With his blue collar background and working class credibility, he had been a crucial ally and public advocate in the larger discussions about strengthening the country’s labor laws, through legislation like the Pro Act, that remains a top Democratic priority.
* AFL-CIO Communications Director Tim Schlittner…
The labor movement, the AFL-CIO and the nation lost a legend today. Rich Trumka devoted his life to working people, from his early days as president of the United Mine Workers of America to his unparalleled leadership as the voice of America’s labor movement. He was a relentless champion of workers’ rights, workplace safety, worker-centered trade, democracy and so much more. He was also a devoted father, grandfather, husband, brother, coach, colleague and friend. Rich was loved and beloved. Today, the 56 unions and 12.5 million members of the AFL-CIO mourn the passing of our fearless leader and commit to honoring his legacy with action. Standing on Rich’s shoulders, we will pour everything we have into building an economy, society and democracy that lifts up every working family and community
I don’t usually do this for national figures, but a number of Illinoisans have weighed in, so I thought I’d post their remarks.
* Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch…
I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka. I had the pleasure of meeting and discussing important issues for our working families with Rich just last week. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to Rich for his tireless efforts in fighting for the rights of working families. He was a steadfast champion for all and will be dearly missed. His family and loved ones will be in my thoughts and prayers.
* Robin Kelly…
Democratic Party of Illinois Chairwoman Robin Kelly on Richard Trumka’s passing:
“My deepest condolences are with the family and friends of Richard Trumka. Rich’s dedication to making sure American workers had a voice and ability to build a good life will be a lasting legacy for the AFL-CIO that will benefit working families for generations to come. Rich was a true warrior and fighter for everyday men and women.”
* CFL…
Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter released the following statement regarding the news that AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has passed away at 72:
“Rich Trumka was a dedicated unionist, a ferocious fighter for working people, and a beloved friend to so many. I met Rich over 11 years ago during my early days at the Chicago Federation of Labor. I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with Rich speaking to workers all over the Chicago area. It gave me an early opportunity to get to know him personally and learn from a leader firsthand how to carry the spirit of the American worker wherever I go. It was clear that he loved Chicago and its workers. He partnered with the CFL and local affiliates countless times throughout the course of his career to improve the lives of workers in Chicago and beyond. The entire Chicago labor movement mourns the devastating loss of President Trumka. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, the AFL-CIO, and the entire labor movement.”
* IFT…
Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery issued the following statement upon the news of the sudden death of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.
“We are shocked and saddened to learn today that Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, has passed away.
“His death is an immeasurable loss for the labor movement and for all working women and men. Rich dedicated his life to improving the lives of American workers and their families and to fighting for the rights and respect that every working person deserves, whether they sweep floors, build skyscrapers, or teach in classrooms.
“Richard Trumka was a real fighter during a period of upheaval and tremendous attacks on labor. A working man, a unionist to the core. Gracious, tenacious, smart. I was proud to have worked with him and privileged to consider him a friend.
“On behalf of the 103,000 members of the IFT, I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten. The fight he led for the rights of all working people and the betterment of this nation endures. That’s his legacy.”
* SEIU Local 73…
SEIU Local 73 President Dian Palmer issued the following statement on the death of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.
“Richard Trumka was a champion for working families and an outspoken advocate for social and economic justice. His work on economic advocacy spanned the globe and brought together international labor support for workers struggling for justice.”
“From fighting to end unfair trade practices to restoring U.S. manufacturing strength, Richard Trumka’s leadership and determination to improve life for all working families was a demonstration of his commitment to the labor movement. We shared his values and will continue his fight for living wages, equal pay, respect at work, safe jobs, secure retirement, and the freedom for all workers to form or join unions and bargain collectively.”
“On behalf of the members of SEIU Local 73, I send our condolences to Richard’s family. May his memory and legacy be a blessing and may he rest in power.”
* US Chamber…
U.S. Chamber President and CEO Suzanne Clark today issued the following statement after the passing of Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO President.
“On behalf of the U.S. Chamber, we are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Richard Trumka, who was a fighter, a fierce advocate, and, above all else, a decent man who earned the respect and admiration of anyone who worked with him.
“We enjoyed many years of strong partnership on shared priorities as well as spirited debate grounded in a common desire to better our nation. Our thoughts go out to his family and the millions of active and retired AFL-CIO members who benefited from his great leadership.”
I’ll update as needed. I think one is coming from the governor, but he’s been at an event.
…Adding… I didn’t see Mayor Lightfoot’s tweet when I put this up…
In his honor, we will never give up fighting for our working families.
My condolences go out to his family and friends who are mourning his passing.
— Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) August 5, 2021
…Adding… Illinois AFL-CIO…
The Illinois AFL-CIO, representing nearly 900,000 workers across the state, today issued the following statement on the passing of national AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka:
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Richard Trumka, a true champion for working people.
Like Richard, I came up through the United Mine Workers union and the Federation of Labor, and worked with him to protect and provide for working families for more than 30 years.
He was always a powerful voice for treating workers fairly and served as a great inspiration for all of our state and local union leaders. But even in his role leading 12.5 million members strong in these challenging times, Richard Trumka never lost sight of who he was fighting for: the everyday men and women who needed good jobs to lead better lives for their families.
He made workplace safety a priority, especially during the pandemic. He understood how to work with Democrats and Republicans, to build the political support needed to keep working families in the fight. He valued social and economic justice, and I know he would be proud of the strides we are taking today in the name of equality and diversity.
We will greatly miss Richard Trumka’s fierce leadership, his undying loyalty to our values, and his sincere friendship. We keep his family in our prayers as we know he will rest in power, with a tremendous legacy.”
Tim Drea
President
Illinois AFL-CIO
…Adding… Governor…
.@AFLCIO President Richard Trumka was a giant in the progressive movement who will be missed tremendously.
It's why I held a moment of silence in his honor today. And I'll continue to support policies that lift up working people by protecting the right to collectively bargain. pic.twitter.com/87gko8dgpF
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka:
“I’m deeply saddened by the tragic and sudden passing of Richard Trumka. Working families across our nation have lost a fierce advocate, one who never shied away from standing up for what was right and who worked every single day to improve the lives of millions of hard-working Americans. His legacy as a champion of working people will live on and I will do all I can to keep up the fight for working families in his honor. My deepest condolences go to his wife, Barbara, and their son, Rich Jr., during this time.”
* Sen. Holmes…
Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) has released the following statement after hearing the news of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka passing today:
“I’m saddened to hear of President Trumka’s untimely passing, and my heart is not just with his immediate family but also with the millions of working people throughout the U.S. who have lost his leadership and his advocacy for them.
He was a legendary powerhouse who devoted his entire career to making life better for all those engaged in keeping this country moving forward. I will remember him and his tremendous influence on the American labor movement.”
Holmes serves as the Chairperson of the Senate Labor Committee.
* Comptroller Mendoza…
Every American who believes in workers’ rights, a safe workplace, and the right to earn a living wage should take a moment today to grieve the loss of Richard Trumka, a powerful fighter for the rights of working men and women. A coal miner who rose to president of the AFL-CIO, Trumka embodied what’s great and worth fighting for in the United States of America. Rest in Peace and God’s glory. We are all better off because of your life. Thank you and Godspeed.
* Sen. Durbin…
We lost a pillar of the union movement today. Richard Trumka spent his life fighting for working families in the United States. We will miss his presence deeply. Loretta and I send our condolences to his wife Barbara and the rest of the Trumka family as they mourn his loss. pic.twitter.com/f1RzG40rOC
SEIU Healthcare IL, IN, MO, KS President Greg Kelley released the following statement regarding the news of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka’s passing:
The unexpected passing of AFL-CIO President, Richard Trumka has left SEIU Healthcare IL IN MO KS with a heavy heart. He was a larger-than-life figure, whose uncompromising efforts in the fight for workers’ rights have left an indelible mark on the labor movement in this country.
Trumka was a giant, not just in stature but in integrity and commitment. He believed in a strong democracy and an equitable society. He supported working families by advocating for vaccinations and workplace safety.
He spent decades speaking out about issues that truly impacted working class people. Trumka never hesitated to use his powerful voice in political and corporate arenas, championing for the rights of hard-working Americans.
We are saddened to have lost one of our greatest warriors in this battle, but we will be diligent in continuing the fight in his honor.
* US Rep. Schakowsky…
Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chairwoman of Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement after the death of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka was announced:
“I am heartbroken over the sudden, unexpected, and tragic death of my friend Richard Trumka. President Trumka’s story is one that should inspire all Americans - the son of immigrants, he went to work in a coal mine, and through hard work and determination, eventually became the most powerful labor leader in the United States.
“President Trumka’s commitment to the working men and women of this country was second to none. I was proud to work closely with him on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), representing a paradigm shift towards workers when it comes to our national trade policy.
“Today we lost a giant. We must honor his memory by fighting like hell for the working men and women of this country, never forgetting that that was his life’s purpose.”
* Every two weeks seems like a lot of time between tests, but whatever. It’s a start…
Due to a recent increase in COVID-19 cases, Secretary of State Jesse White announced that beginning Sept. 1, Secretary of State employees who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 will be required to submit to repeated COVID-19 testing.
“As the pandemic continues to surge nationally, we must do all we can to maintain the safety of our customers and employees and this is an important step in doing that,” said Secretary White. “I am proud of our staff for their hard work as we continue to provide essential services during this challenging time.”
Employees will be required to show proof of their vaccination status. Employees who are not vaccinated will be required to submit the results of COVID-19 tests every two weeks.
This announcement follows the implementation of White’s policy requiring all employees and customers at Driver Services facilities, Secretary of State Offices and the Illinois State Capitol Complex to wear masks while inside those locations.
White stressed that it is imperative for his facilities to remain open to serve the public to reduce the heavy customer volume caused by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last year. White said reinstating the mask policy for employees and customers, as well as this new initiative will help achieve this goal.
White is reminding customers that his office extended expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards until Jan. 1, 2022. As a result, expired documents will remain valid until Jan. 1, 2022, so customers do not need to rush into a facility. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits.
* And this was announced while I was on break, so I figured I’d post it now…
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is launching a comprehensive plan to address the heavy customer volume at Driver Services facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. White’s plan includes two key elements:
• Expanding the appointment pilot program in September to include most Driver Services facilities in the Chicagoland area.
• Expanding remote renewal over the next six months to allow approximately 1 million more people to renew their driver’s licenses and ID cards online, by phone or by mail. Letters will be mailed out to those who qualify beginning in September until the end of February 2022.
“During the pandemic, my office has continued to serve the public, including face-to-face transactions, in a safe and responsible manner,” said White. “Throughout this time, we also greatly expanded online services. This next step will allow many more people to renew their driver’s licenses or ID cards remotely instead of visiting a Driver Services facility. To further address the heavy customer volume at facilities, my office is expanding the appointment program in September to include most Chicagoland facilities, so customers who must visit a facility can schedule an appointment. Certain designated facilities will still accommodate walk-in customers.”
Expanding the Appointment Program
Beginning the first week of September, customers will be required to make an appointment to visit the following three Chicago facilities: Chicago North, 5401 N. Elston Ave.; Chicago South, 9901 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive; and Chicago West, 5301 W. Lexington St. The days and hours of operation at these facilities will be Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning Aug. 2.
Lake Zurich, Melrose Park, Midlothian and Woodstock have been serving as appointment facilities since early this year. These facilities, which also operate Tuesday through Saturday, will continue requiring appointments.
The week of Sept. 7th, many other metro Driver Services facilities will also require appointments. These facilities include Schaumburg, Bridgeview, Lombard, Des Plaines, Waukegan, Naperville, Aurora, Plano and Joliet.
Appointments will be required for customers applying for or renewing REAL IDs, standard driver’s licenses and ID cards, and for behind-the-wheel road tests at these facilities. Customers can visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com to schedule an appointment up to 10 days in advance during this phase of the program. New appointment slots will be available each day at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.
All 16 facilities will have the same standardized days and hours of operation: Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Secretary White emphasized that seniors, persons with disabilities and expectant mothers will be served as walk-ins at all 16 of the designated appointment facilities.
Beginning in September, customers can schedule an appointment online or by calling the appointment helpline at 844-817-4649. The Secretary of State is partnering with the Chicago Lighthouse to provide these call center services. The Chicago Lighthouse’s call centers offer career opportunities for people who are blind, visually impaired, disabled, veterans and economically disadvantaged.
Larger central and downstate Illinois facilities will implement a customer scheduling system in the near future.
Walk-in Facilities
White noted that not all facilities will go to the appointment-based system. Many small, rural facilities will not require the appointment system because they do not encounter the heavy customer volume that large facilities encounter.
Additionally, some Chicagoland facilities will remain accessible to walk-in customers. These facilities include Deerfield, Elgin, Chicago Central (James R. Thompson Center) and the temporary facility at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights.
Expanding remote renewal to address heavy customer volume
Beginning in September and running through February 2022, White’s office will be expanding remote renewal for driver’s license and ID card holders. During this six-month period, the office will mail letters to eligible customers with expired driver’s licenses and ID cards, requiring them to renew online, by phone or by mail. The office estimates that this will eliminate the need for approximately 1 million people to visit a facility.
In addition, White’s office will continue mailing remote renewal letters to drivers and ID card holders 90 days before their cards expire. Through this innovative approach, most customers will be able to renew remotely and avoid visiting facilities. Customers who must visit a facility include first time driver’s license or ID card applicants, first time REAL ID applicants and drivers ages 75 and older who are required by state law to visit a facility when renewing their license.
White continues to encourage people to conduct other business online at www.cyberdriveillinois.com. Aside from driver’s license and ID card renewals for those who qualify, online services include obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card, ordering a driver record and purchasing license plate stickers.
As a reminder, White has extended all driver’s license and ID card expiration dates to Jan. 1, 2022. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has extended the federal REAL ID deadline to May 3, 2023.
You’ll recall that SoS candidate Alexi Giannoulias said last month that he would expand that appointment pilot program if elected.
Menstrual products will be provided free of charge at shelters for homeless people and in campus bathrooms at public universities and community colleges under pieces of legislation signed into law Thursday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
“Given the high price of menstrual products such as pads and tampons, it’s no wonder that many women below the poverty line have had to sacrifice their personal health and hygiene in order to afford food or other basic necessities, turning to socks and toilet paper to manage their menstrual cycle,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker was joined by the sponsors of House Bills 155, 310 and 641 which he signed Thursday at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The bills increase access to menstrual products, necessities “which fit right alongside hand soap and toilet paper as critical hygiene care” that can make or break a student’s day, the governor said. […]
Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, said the legislation signed Thursday “recognizes a simple fact of biology: about half our population experiences menstruation throughout a significant portion of their lifetimes.”
“We all agree collectively that soap, toilet paper, napkins, tissues, seat covers and all those other things are provided for us in public spaces,” said Stuart, a sponsor of the legislation. “In fact, we probably don’t really ever think about it until we’re in a situation where we really need something like that, and it’s just not there. This legislation puts menstrual hygiene products in that same category, which is exactly where they belong.”
HB 155 requires the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to apply for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, that would pave the way for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to use the two programs for diapers and menstrual hygiene products. This piece of legislation goes into effect January 1, 2022.
HB 641 requires all public colleges and community colleges across the state to provide free feminine hygiene products in campus bathrooms. This legislation goes into effect immediately. The Board of Trustees at Illinois colleges and universities will need to decide how these needs are funded.
House Bill 310 requires homeless shelters that serve women and youth to make menstrual hygiene products available free of charge. That requirement, however, is “subject to the availability of funds in the homeless shelter’s general budget,” according to the bill.
“I cannot personally imagine the indignity of having to use some other item as a makeshift sanitary product,” bill sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Swansea, said at the news conference. “But I believe people who have already been deprived of so much should not have to suffer that, too.”
That measure passed the General Assembly with only one vote against in the Senate and three votes against in the House. It will become law in January 2022.
Citing a flurry of last-minute interest, the city now is considering extending the period in which gambling companies can submit a bid to operate Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposed mega-casino, according to a source familiar with the matter.
An extension of two months or so now appears likely, and an announcement is possible by the end of the week.
Bids now are due on Aug. 23, and the mayor has faced the politically awkward possibility of getting only one bid, from a partnership of Chicago casino mogul Neil Bluhm and Related Midwest, with the facility going on Related’s The 78 development at Roosevelt and Clark. […]
Though Lightfoot has insisted there is “no hometown favorite,” awarding a pact to the Blumn/Related team without competition could generate some negative headlines, given that Bluhm’s daughter, Leslie Bluhm, has donated and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the mayor’s campaign fund.
* First he spread false reports of people dying from taking the vaccine, and now this…
Gary Rabine, one of three announced GOP candidates for governor, attacked Gov. J.B Pritzker’s mask mandate for schools by falsely contending the results of a Danish study last year dismissed the efficacy of face coverings by concluding there was “no statistical advantage to those who wore masks.” […]
But Rabine went further, contending a Danish study in 2020 found that people who wore masks “were just as likely to get COVID-19 as those who didn’t.” Rabine said the study concluded there was “no statistical advantage to those who work masks.”
Rabine’s conclusion conflicts with context provided by authors of the report who said the study of 6,000 people was geared to look at a 50% difference in COVID-19 infections between those who wore masks and those who did not.
According to FactCheck.org, the authors emphasized that their results “should not be used to conclude that a recommendation for everyone to wear masks in the community would not be effective in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infections, because the trial did not test the role of masks in source control of SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
Source control means the spread of mask wearers to others, meaning the study only assessed the personal protective effect of a mask from being infected, not the potential for masks to block the spread to others, FactCheck.org noted. […]
Still, the Danish results have been misreported widely among COVID-19 deniers and those who oppose mitigation measures to contend that masking is ineffective against the virus. A number of researchers have pointed to concerns about the study, including the adequacy of COVID testing among participants and whether test subjects actually wore masks as were required.
In regards to the state’s school mask mandate, Kinzinger said, “If that’s what keeps kids safe – all these kids aren’t vaccinated – then it’s fine to lean forward on it, as long as it’s not being done in a strong handed way, as long as it’s being done on scientific recommendations.”
In just one month, new COVID-19 infections more than tripled, but vaccinations dropped nearly by half, Illinois Department of Public Health data showed.
The latest mutation of COVID-19, the delta variant, is spreading rapidly, and it shows in average daily caseloads spurting from 318 in June to 969 in July across Illinois.
However, COVID-19 vaccinations shrunk from an average of 40,452 a day in June to 21,102 in July, reflecting some people’s hesitancy about getting a shot and the fact most Americans who are eligible for a dose have already gotten one. […]
On Tuesday, 26,667 more COVID-19 shots were administered. The seven-day average is 28,180.
State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, said such decisions can’t be left to one person. Legislators elected by the people should be debating such issues.
“We’ve been saying from the beginning from here as well that the legislature should be involved,” McClure said. “I think hearings are important.”
The governor’s direction requires masks to be worn for workers in state facilities, prisons, day care centers, and public and private schools — where students must mask-up, too. The rule kicks in Oct. 4, allowing for unions that represent state workers to negotiate the specifics.
Um, the governor’s announcement was about a mask mandate for P-12 schools and long-term care facilities and a vaccine mandate for congregate state facility workers. It was in all the papers.
The nation’s largest nursing home operator told its workers this week they will have to get COVID-19 vaccinations to keep their jobs — a possible shift in an industry that has largely rejected compulsory measures for fear of triggering an employee exodus that could worsen already dangerous staffing shortages.
The new requirement at Genesis Healthcare, which has 70,000 employees at nearly 400 nursing homes and senior communities, is the clearest sign yet that such places may be willing to take that risk amid the surging delta variant and the fact that more than 40% of U.S. nursing home workers still have not gotten the shot.
Some experts are calling for mandatory vaccinations at nursing homes, warning that unprotected staff members are endangering residents. Even residents who have been inoculated are vulnerable because many are elderly and frail, with weak immune systems.
More than 1,250 nursing home residents across the U.S. were infected with COVID-19 in the week ending July 25, double the number from the week earlier, and 202 died, according to federal data.
Major hospital system Advocate Aurora Health will require all of its workers to get COVID-19 vaccines, joining a growing list of Illinois health care providers mandating the shots.
Advocate Aurora, which has 10 hospitals in Illinois, will require its workers to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 15. The system has 75,000 workers in Illinois and Wisconsin.
“Our ultimate duty is to protect the health and safety of our team members, patients and communities,” President and CEO Jim Skogsbergh told employees in a video Wednesday. “The data is overwhelming. This vaccine is safe, and it’s highly effective in preventing infection and even more so, serious illness and death.” […]
More than 50 health care organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Nursing Association, released a statement last week supporting vaccine mandates in health care.
* Leaving it up to the locals was creating divisive local fights…
At first glance, the hurling of F-bombs, menacing threats and burly security guards whisking away unruly members of the crowds packing suburban school board meetings in recent weeks seems straight out of a reality TV show.
But the scenes are unfolding in real time across the Chicago suburbs, where concerned parents and beleaguered school district officials on Wednesday greeted Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mask mandate with everything from anger and sadness to relief and appreciation. […]
This summer, some members of the crowd at a Barrington Community School District 220 board meeting were escorted out of the room by security, and a recent District 45 meeting in Villa Park was adjourned after a mask debate devolved into a shouting match.
* Less than 2 months after lifting most COVID-19 orders, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issues mask mandate for schools and vaccine requirement for some state workers
* Do you agree or disagree with the governor’s vaccine mandate for employees at the Illinois Departments of Human Services, Veterans’ Affairs, Corrections and Juvenile Justice who work in congregate facilities? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
