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* Press release…
Continuing Illinois’ progress as the vaccination leader of the Midwest, Governor JB Pritzker announced the largest union agreement regarding vaccines for 7,800 state employees who are represented by AFSCME. Nearly 10,000 state workers are now covered under union vaccine agreements.
This agreement will ensure employees in 24/7 congregate facilities within the Illinois Departments of Human Services, and Veterans’ Affairs are protected with the COVID-19 vaccines. Employees under all union vaccine agreements are required to get their first shot by October 26 and second shot by November 30.
“I’m proud to announce our sixth and largest union agreement that will protect nearly 10,000 state workers and the people under their care,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We’ve overcome tremendous challenges during the pandemic, and I want to thank our partners in the labor movement for being a part of the solution. Each person that gets vaccinated is protecting themselves, the people around them and our state as a whole. We will continue to work through the established legal process to ensure all state employees who work with the vulnerable and incarcerated are vaccinated.”
In addition to the announced agreements, the State and AFSCME have reached an impasse at the bargaining table for employees at the Departments of Corrections and Juvenile Justice. The next steps for those bargaining units are as follows:
• For roughly 10,300 security employees at the Departments of Corrections and Juvenile Justice, the State and the union will submit to interest arbitration.
• For an additional 1,900 non-security employees at those two departments, the State has informed AFSCME that it will implement the following terms: employees must get their first shot by October 26 and their second shot by November 30. This is in accordance with state law.State employees who remain unvaccinated pose a significant risk to individuals in Illinois’ congregate facilities. Therefore, if employees do not receive the vaccine or an exemption by the dates identified, progressive disciplinary measures will be implemented. The agreement includes a process whereby employees can seek an exemption based on medical contraindications or sincerely held religious beliefs.
Following Gov. Pritzker’s announcement that all state workers who work in state-run congregate facilities would be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the agreements covering 2,090 workers have been made:
• VR-704: 260 supervisory employees at the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Agreement announced on September 20, 2021.
• Illinois Nurses Association: approximately 1,100 nurses working in 24/7 facilities like McFarland Mental Health Facility, Quincy Veterans’ Home and Jacksonville Correctional Center. Agreement announced on October 7, 2021.
• Illinois Federation of Public Employees: approximately 160 employees working in Human Services and Veterans’ Affairs. Agreement announced on October 7, 2021.
• Illinois Trade Unions: approximately 470 employees working in 24/7 facilities such as Menard Corrections Center, Shapiro Developmental Center and Quincy Veteran’s Home. Agreement announced on October 18, 2021.
• Teamsters: approximately 100 maintenance equipment operators and maintenance workers at the Illinois Department of Human Services and Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Agreement announced on October 20, 2021.
• AFSCME: approximately 7,800 employees in 24/7 congregate facilities within the Illinois Departments of Human Services, and Veterans’ Affairs.To further encourage vaccinations under the agreements with the unions, employees will receive an additional personal day. If the vaccine administration is not available during an employee’s regularly scheduled shift, the employee may be compensated at their regular pay for the time taken to receive the vaccine. In addition, vaccinated employees will receive paid “COVID time,” so that if a vaccinated employee gets COVID-19 they will receive a period of paid time off without using their benefit time.
The administration has taken extensive measures to make the COVID-19 vaccine equitable and accessible. The Pritzker administration established 25 mass vaccination sites. The Illinois National Guard supported more than 800 mobile vaccination clinics on top of an additional 1,705 state-supported mobile sites that focused on communities hardest hit by the pandemic, young residents, and rural communities. The COVID-19 vaccine has been available for healthcare and nursing home workers since December 15, 2020, and open to teachers since January 25, 2021.
Vaccination is the key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic and returning to normal life. All Illinois residents over the age of 12 are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost and proof of immigration status is not required to receive the vaccine. To find a vaccination center near you, visit vaccines.gov.
*** UPDATE *** From Council 31…
AFSCME represents some 39,000 Illinois state employees. Some 20,000 of these work in 24/7 congregate facilities—such as veterans homes, psychiatric hospitals, residential programs for people with developmental disabilities, prisons and juvenile justice centers—that are affected by the state’s vaccine requirements.
While employers have the right to require vaccination, they must negotiate how such requirements are implemented. Since August we have engaged in negotiations over the implementation of those requirements.
Human Services and Veterans Affairs
The parties have now reached an agreement on terms affecting more than 7,000 employees in the departments of Human Services and Veterans Affairs. Employees are required to have their first shot by Tuesday, Oct. 26, or may file for a religious or medical exemption by the same date. Failure to do so will result not in discharge but progressive discipline culminating in either unpaid leave or layoff.Importantly, the union secured paid time off for employees who contract the virus, must quarantine due to exposure, or have to care for a dependent who is sick or quarantined, as well as an added personal day off for employees who are fully vaccinated.
In addition, a special Labor-Management COVID Safety Committee will be established in each impacted agency to fight the spread of the virus on all fronts.
Corrections and Juvenile Justice—security employees
The parties have been unable to reach agreement on terms for employees in the Departments of Corrections and Juvenile Justice. The more than 10,000 employees who work in security positions (such as correctional officers) have the right to submit unresolved issues to a neutral third-party arbitrator. We have filed the necessary paperwork with the state labor board to initiate this process. The vaccine requirement cannot be implemented until interest arbitration is concluded.Corrections and Juvenile Justice—non-security employees
The parties also have not reached agreement on terms for the more than 2,000 non-security employees (e.g. clerical and other support workers) in prisons and youth centers. These employees do not have the right to interest arbitration. Arguing that the parties are at impasse in negotiations, the administration is planning to impose the terms of the DHS/DVA agreement on these workers. The union does not agree that the parties are at impasse and will bring the matter before the Illinois Labor Relations Board.AFSCME is continuing our efforts to share authoritative information with union members about the benefits of getting vaccinated. Safe and effective, vaccines are the best way to protect ourselves, our families, our coworkers and communities, to defeat the pandemic and return to normal.
* Related…
* Despite pleas and even threats, IDOC worker vax rate remains about the same
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 1:26 pm
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Continuing pandemic brought to you by the perfidy of a political party, the cowardice of unions and the waffling of political leadership.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 1:34 pm
“Governor JB Pritzker announced the largest union agreement regarding vaccines for 7,800 state employees who are represented by AFSCME”
This is good. However, one of the ironies is all these cops and prison guards who literally risk their lives every day in their professions—all these pro military/cop/gun/law and order types—are scared of a vaccine. That’s a head shaker but maybe shouldn’t be.
The Florida governor is reportedly considering legislation to give anti-mandate cops $5,000 to work there. Those who don’t like mandates could leave Illinois.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 1:51 pm
You’re not wrong Norseman.
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 1:55 pm
Let’s be very crystal clear;
===While employers have the right to require vaccination, they must negotiate how such requirements are implemented. Since August we have engaged in negotiations over the implementation of those requirements.===
It’s not about the safety, well-being, or health.
It is NOT
It’s about appeasing and seemingly going against why organized labor was created to let folks who feel “aggrieved” feel important.
It’s still disappointing. These are the words they chose, not my… interpretation… of thoughts.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 2:23 pm
What about the rest of us AFSCME? I have a coworker who just missed 10 days of work due to covid. He is fully vaxxed. If you had not unnecessarily been dragging your feet, he would not have to use his benefit time to account for the time off. What is he getting for his confiscatory dues? Not nearly what he’s paying for.
Comment by Captain Obvious Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 2:38 pm
=While employers have the right to require vaccination, they must negotiate how such requirements are implemented.=
No. Vaccinated or unvaccinated are the choices. They are binary. A choice must be made. For the union to argue anything else only reinforces that they aren’t a serious organization when it comes to issues of health and welfare. And that’s unfortunate as the position is directly at odds with the majority of their supporters both union members and society as a whole.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 3:34 pm
== The Florida governor is reportedly considering legislation to give anti-mandate cops $5,000 to work there. Those who don’t like mandates could leave Illinois. ==
I am sure they are going to love having COPS who feel very strongly that their union should be in control of all the things. We know how friendly the south is to organized labor.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 3:36 pm
All AFSCME and State of IL employees should be required to be vaccinated. You want us to go into offices where unvaccinated wont even stay masked? You endanger us AFSCME. Though vaccinated are better protected they can still become infected. Immunocompromised employees are made to go into office and can get very ill or die . Step up AFSCME. I pay full dues and am not protected by you until you require vaccines for everyone.
Comment by Peanut Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 3:52 pm
Who should die first, public sector unions or these hypochondria-inspired mandates? Choices, choices…
Comment by Bad Goya Vitch Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 4:17 pm
==All AFSCME and State of IL employees should be required to be vaccinated. You want us to go into offices where unvaccinated wont even stay masked? You endanger us AFSCME.==
As I said many times, it needs to urgently be No Jab, No Job. And non-vaxxers who are dismissed due to failure to vaccinate need to be stripped of their pensions, no different than someone convicted of a felony would be (e.g., Ryan, Blago, Candace Wanzo).
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 4:23 pm
Arbitration? What is the middle ground on this?
Man AFSCME is really running out the clock here. Ridiculous.
A 4th Personal day for getting the shot? That seems more then generous when most IL Citizens did it for Nothing and/or because it was just common sense.
Comment by Mason born Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 4:28 pm
At the very least, all MC employees should be mandated. Many aren’t. These are the Governor’s appointees….
Comment by FIREDup! Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 4:29 pm
===no different than someone convicted of a felony would be===
They only lost the portion of their pensions when they were convicted for committing crimes. Rod’s legislative pension wasn’t touched. Ryan cashed in his pension before he was convicted.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 4:29 pm
Sadly Illinois is one of the more pro-active states in dealing with the issue… and this is what we have to deal with… Very unfortunate.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 4:50 pm
There is no law to be broken no one is going to have a misdemeanor or a felony or lose their pension over a vaccination status
Comment by Anon Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 4:59 pm
Captain Obvious has it right. Instead of negotiating to get all vaccinated AFSCME’s Covid time if we get sick, Council chose to pander to CO’s afraid of the vaccine.
Those AFSCME’s who have done the right thing get nothing. Those who actually want to leave AFSCME and join FOP get whatever they want.
I see what hill Roberta wants to die on.
AFSCME’s who have been vaccinated need to demand Covid time be negotiated
First
Then worry about pandering to the frightened little CO’s
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 5:00 pm
How many personal days do AFSCME members have to be given to get a vaccine? The big pharmacy chains have plenty of appointments available with a phone call. So basically hold out until you can squeeze more benefits from the state. The health of people around you is irrelevent to getting a day off.
Comment by zatoichi Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 5:48 pm
Also not to sound conspiratorial, but I also wonder if there are some AFSCME members, even some who are actually fully vaccinated, that are resisting vaccine mandates because they fear that mandates will mean the end of working from home. And back to the office.
And this thought is coming from someone that was only out of the office an very short time during the stay-at-home orders before I had to be back in the office.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 5:55 pm
NonAFSCMEStateemployee, as a person who loves a good conspiracy, I have to say I don’t see this happening. I can tell you with total certainty that with DHS the workers actually got more productive working from home. No I don’t think that’s it. The population I serve has a high rate of transmission. That’s the main reason my office doesn’t go back.
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Oct 26, 21 @ 8:27 am