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* Press release…
AFSCME Council 31, the largest union of public service workers in Illinois, today endorsed J.B. Pritzker for governor and Juliana Stratton for lieutenant governor.
“Bruce Rauner has caused conflict, refused to compromise and can’t be trusted. Working families are unquestionably worse off now than when he took office,” AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch said.
“Repairing the damage done by Rauner is a big job. Illinois needs leaders like J.B. and Juliana who will bring people together and who care about working families,” Lynch said. “They’ve taken the time to travel the state and to listen to working people. They know the importance of public services and they value the women and men who provide those services in our communities every day. We look forward to working with J.B. and Juliana to rebuild our state.”
The Pritzker endorsement was made today in Springfield at a meeting of the executive committee of the union’s political program, known as AFSCME PEOPLE (Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality). The committee is comprised of rank-and-file union members from every part of Illinois.
Union members on the committee shared why they unanimously support Pritzker and Stratton.
“Everybody who works for a living has been harmed by Bruce Rauner. We need someone who will sit down with everyone and come up with solutions that are fair,” said Garry Cacciapaglia, a water plant operator in Rockford. “J.B. has already gone out and built bonds with many different groups all over the state. We’re excited to stand together to beat Bruce Rauner.”
“For working people tired of the last three-plus years of Bruce Rauner attacking us and never being on our side, J.B. Pritzker will bring dramatic and welcome change. For state employees, I believe J.B. will be someone who’s open and willing to work together and treat us fairly,” said Stephen Mittons, a child protective investigator in Chicago. “J.B. has a progressive platform to raise the revenue Illinois needs from those who can afford it.”
“Bruce Rauner starved universities, doing incalculable damage to university employees and the students we serve. We need a governor who will prioritize higher education,” said Ellen Larrimore, an archivist at Northeastern Illinois University. “I know that J.B. Pritzker believes in funding public higher education and understands the important role it plays in our state.”
“Under Rauner we’ve had to fight just to get a living wage. He doesn’t understand the work we do and never walked in our shoes,” said Yolanda Woods, a caregiver for children with disabilities in Springfield. “We need someone like J.B. Pritzker who’s compassionate enough to take the time and understand a single mother who works two jobs and still can’t make ends meet. We need someone who’s willing to stand up for what’s right and get the job done.”
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31 represents some 100,000 active and retired employees of city, county and state governments, public universities, school districts and not-for-profit agencies statewide.
Thoughts?
…Adding… Pritzker campaign…
“I’m honored to have the support of AFSCME and the tens of thousands of workers it represents in Illinois,” said JB Pritzker. “While Bruce Rauner undercuts our workers and attacks their families at every chance, I will restore the respect our public sector workers deserve. I will defend collective bargaining rights for our unions and protect hard earned pensions. With the support of AFSCME members throughout Illinois, we will build on our statewide, grassroots campaign that is ready to put Springfield back on the side of working families and get our state back on track.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:28 pm
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Previous Post: *** UPDATED x1 *** Embattled Veterans’ Affairs director quits
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What a shock!
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:38 pm
The “J.B. and Juliana” language strikes me like this was written by the Pritzker campaign. Still, can’t blame AFSCME–they’re acting in their self-interest, which is their job.
Comment by Chris Widger Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:41 pm
Weapons free…..finally my crew can hit the beachhead
Door to door
Hand to hand
Neighbor to neighbor
Every door
Catagory I-V
AFSCME’s coordinated with
Labor Councils
SEIU
IFT
USW
LIUNA
CWA
UFCW
Like operation Overlord
Look out on the horizon Rauner
We’re coming in
Now
Nothing beats the ground game
We are going to pummel you with
Janus will bounce off
You failed Bruce
Comment by Honeybear Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:55 pm
My thoughts? Well, awaiting for the Janus case to be settled once for all. Should be within the next 6 weeks.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:55 pm
Would love to know how many AFSCME members voted for Rauner because they thought Quinn was the worst thing that ever happened to them.
Comment by Roman Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:56 pm
I like the AFSCME press release. Smart to talk about Rauner hurting “everybody who works for a living” instead of focusing on AFSCME employees in the testimonials. AFSCME isn’t all that popular in large chunks of the state, but there’s plenty of “working people” that could relate to the message.
I also like the third testimonial that gets more specific about universities for two reason: (1) JB could capture the vote of folks that live in university towns that might otherwise be reluctant to vote for a Dem given that Rauner starved the economic engines of their communities. (2) There’s some evidence that younger liberal university students that tend to stay home during most elections might actually turn out for this non-presidential election thanks to the heightened partisan atmosphere. We’ll have to see if that holds true though.
Comment by Chicago_Downstater Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:57 pm
Probably going to vote J.B. also, but not too sure another rich big wig will make enough difference to get state back on track.
Comment by Generic Drone Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:59 pm
As a retired state employee, I couldn’t agree more. Rauner has been a complete failure for working people. He could not get my vote under any circumstance. It will be nice to see him move out of the Governor’s Mansion.
Comment by Retired Educator Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:03 pm
Based on what happened in the last primary, and some of the contentiousness of this year, I think it was wise of AFSCME to endorse later. Now it’s time to put differences aside and advance united, as one.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:04 pm
Honeybear - I love your enthusiasm, but the union label ain’t what it used to be …
“Since 2006, unionization has declined in Illinois, in the Chicago region, and in America. There are approximately 84,000 fewer union members in Illinois today than there were in 2006, …..Declining union membership in Illinois has primarily been the result of decreases in male unionization and private sector unionization.Consequently, the total number of labor unions and similar labor organizations has declined over the
past decade. There are 891 labor unions and similar organizations in Illinois, a decline of nearly 100
worker establishments over the past ten years. ”
https://ler.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/State-of-the-Unions-2016-FINAL.pdf
Comment by Texas Red Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:04 pm
—-
Would love to know how many AFSCME members voted for Rauner because they thought Quinn was the worst thing that ever happened to them.
—
A lot. I’m guessing it’s one of the reasons Rauner eeked out a win.
Comment by Macbeth Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:05 pm
Of course they did.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:09 pm
While predictable, the formal endorsement means there should be a fair amount of foot soldiers to carry JB over the top. And, in this case, enthusiastic volunteers make better foot soldiers than hired mercenaries.
Comment by RNUG Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:24 pm
I was in a four man team, covered by afscme and two voted for Rauner
Comment by Retired Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:27 pm
I imagine JB will be sure to give away the store and make sure all of AFSCME actually sees a pay raise once again while all their neighbors get a pay cut due to the coming tax hike. Even Quinn did that.
Comment by Robert the 1st Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:30 pm
==while all their neighbors get a pay cut due to the coming tax hike.==
I’m pretty sure they all pay taxes and will also see a pay cut.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:39 pm
Asfme being the last to the party, relegated them to meaningless. A major case of pussitis for the last 9 months from them.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:41 pm
No need for a 40 hour work week gang, JB to the rescue!
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:46 pm
Pritzker has this in the bag. With or without this endorsement. Save ypur money. It aint needed.
Comment by BlueDogDem Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:48 pm
==I was in a four man team, covered by afscme and two voted for Rauner==
Anecdotal.
Comment by FDB Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 2:28 pm
Texas Red - this is not aspiration. I’m talking about the teams and coordination I am personally involved with. Like
Marines in a landing craft waiting for the gate to go down
Like paratroopers lined up in the plane waiting for green light
I’ve been working non stop
Every day for this endorsement action
My regional rep would literally wince every time he’d see me because he knew I was going to pester him about when the endorsement was going to happen. Admittedly I’ve been a bit insufferable.
But all those unions I mentioned, those are unions and labor councils I am personally coordinating with.
And I’m just a front rank leader. The coordination and work going on above me is immense.
Yesterday’s rally in Springfield was amazing. AFL-CIO fed about 400 like it was a picnic for 4.
SEIU had the AV gear set up for us and coordinated their rally with ours.
Texas Red- I’m being straight with you
We’ve never been better
We were just waiting for that green light
I get why they held it close
Operational security
I get your point. But I’m here to tell you what the reality is.
Rauner unified us
Rauner breathed new life and purpose into labor
Including police and fire labor
Including trades
But words are meaningless
I’ll let you fully judge my actions
I’ll take personal responsibility
For Metro East numbers
Fair? I’ll admit failure if fall short.
But I saw a lot of Afscme front line leaders like me who are every bit as passionate and committed
It wasn’t my call when to endorse
It’s totally mine to execute our plans and hold my part of the line.
Comment by Honeybear Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 2:34 pm
Anonymous 1:41
In retrospect it was a good call not to endorse for the primary.
You think I’m the only passionate Afscme?
I was matched by northern Chicago Biss AFSCME’s, southern illinois IDOC Kennedy folks. All strong persuaders
If we endorsed
We would run the risk of fracture.
The PEOPLE executive committee
Made a good call
Unity in the face of Janus
Is priority number 1
Comment by Honeybear Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 2:53 pm
I would hope they endorsed JB. Rauner has declared war on them. I’d use whatever resources that were available to me to defeat a guy who hates me.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 2:54 pm