Illinois Policy Institute (AKA 'Freedom Foundation')

The Freedom Foundation, a dark money (lots of money) fiercely anti-union organization, is trying to expand its reach and impact in Illinois. You may recognize that name. These are the wealthy elite who hate the fact that public employees in our state can come together in a union to improve their working lives.
 

AFSCME has learned that this organization is submitting extensive FOIA requests to state agencies to gather information on state employees. They want your work email and work phone number — and to find out if you are working remotely. Why? Well,
the glossy mailers they’ve been sending to some employees’ homes to try to get us to quit our union just aren’t working. No thanks!
 

We know just what to do with them — into the trash can they go. Or you can do what I do and fill a box with junk mail, then attach the postage paid card to the front of the box and mail it to them with a choice message. What?!? They have to pay the
postage :)
 

We know the Freedom Foundation’s real goal is not our wellbeing, but destroying unions in the public sector. They claim they can help you put a little more money in your pocket now and all you have to do is help them weaken our union so we can’t continue to negotiate strong contracts with first-rate wages and benefits.
 

So if you find that the Freedom Foundation has infiltrated your email — or is trying to target you because you work remotely — you don’t even need a trash can to fight back. Just hit ‘delete.’ And then make sure you are and remain an AFSCME member
helping to build our union ever stronger.
 

Our power is in our numbers. We need to remain strong and a force to be reckoned with!

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Get To Know Your Contract:

Hours of Work and Overtime / Article XII

C) "Late Arrival and Unauthorized Absence" There shall be no general policy of docking for late arrival.

 

Employees who are repeatedly late may be docked until the problem has been corrected over a reasonable period. However, this shall not limit the Employer’s right to dock for unauthorized absence and/or resort to the disciplinary procedure of this Agreement for excessive late arrival and/or unauthorized absence.
 

The threshold between late arrival and unauthorized absence is one hour after the starting time.
 

So what does this mean? It means that if something happens occasionally and you are late, the employer cannot dock you or make you use benefit time if you are less than an hour late.
 

HOWEVER, that can happen if your are habitually late.
 

This 1 hour threshold does NOT mean that you can schedule an appointment for 1st thing in the morning knowing you will not be more than an hour late and not use benefit time. This section of the contract is for unexpected situations.
 

Under normal circumstances you are to be signed in and at your desk ready to work by your start time.
 

This does not mean pulling into the parking lot or walking in the door. It means signed in and ready to work.

 

AFSCME Council 31 State Convention

This October, Locals from across Illinois will gather in Springfield to participate in this years convention. These conventions are packed full of workshops, speakers, outlining our union's agenda for the next two years, and fun. If you think you might be interested in attending the meeting for nomination, an election of delegates will be held at the in-person membership meeting held in August. Location to be determined.

 

Labor Day Parade! Mobilize. Organize. Fight.

That is this year’s Rockford Labor Day Parade theme so mark your calendars for Monday September 1st and plan on participating in this year’s Labor Day Parade. With everything going on in the word we need to stand together and show our community that we are there for them. More info to come!

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More White House Gaslighting About Project 2025. We Won't Be Fooled!

In just a few months, the Trump administration has implemented more than 40% of the goals of Project 2025, according to this Project 2025 tracker.  

 

But Russell Vought, the White House’s point man on Project 2025, wants you to disbelieve what you see.  

 

To hear the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) say it, there’s no coordination between the White House and the authors of that anti-worker agenda. As Vought put it to CNN over the weekend: “No, of course not!”  

 

Yeah. We believe you, Russ.  

 

Vought is one of the principal authors of Project 2025.  As head of OMB, his job is to execute Donald Trump’s cruel plans for the way the federal government should operate.  

 

Vought’s own vision for mass federal layoffs and firings is becoming real as Elon Musk’s cronies at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency goes on a reckless downsizing spree.  

 

But Vought wants you to believe all this fake news. That it’s just a coincidence that so much of Project 2025 has already been put in place.  

 

Remember how Trump denied even knowing about Project 2025 during his campaign for president? Trump is a honest guy, isn’t he?  

 

Seriously, though, AFSCME members cannot ignore what’s happening right in front of us. Because, as we warned last summer, Project 2025 calls for eliminating public service unions like AFSCME.  

 

Trump and his allies have plenty of time left to implement the rest of their blueprint, which is a list of all the ways to harm working families, shred public services and destroy labor unions. 

 

We must fight back. Through our Get Organized campaign, AFSCME members are taking action to protect public services and the well-being of our communities. 

Join the fight. It’s time to GO! 

 

It's Benefits Time!

Be sure and review the benefits choice information. Those of you currently using Heath Alliance know that they are no longer going to be an option. If you do not choose another provider during the benefits choice period you will be automatically enrolled in Quality Care and you will not be able to change that until next year.

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Stewards Needed!

We are still in need of stewards at many of our worksites. There will be a steward training this August in Rockford. If you are interested in becoming a steward let Alice Sutherland know. You can email her at presidentafscmelocal448@gmail.com.

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Help Is Just A Call Away!

We wanted to take a moment to remind you that if you are experiencing excessive stress, depression or anxiety, help is available through the AFSCME Personal Support Program. It's now even easier to access the help you need as PSP services are available via Telehealth. You can call 1-800-647-8776 for assistance.

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Want To Receive Text and Email Updates?

In an effort to keep everyone up to date on what is going on, we are trying to gather personal email addresses and cell phone numbers so that this can be used as a method of contact when important things come up and we need to get the word out fast. If you would like to receive email and text updates, please send your PERSONAL email address and cell phone information to Alice Sutherland at presidentafscmelocal448@gmail.com. You can also do this by going to www.afscme31.org and entering your email address in the “Sign UP for Email” space, then completing the information asked for.

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Welcome To Our AFSCME 448 Website!

It is a pleasure to present our AFSCME 448 website to our members! The website launched publicly on December 6, 2019, and the primary purpose of the website is to communicate noteworthy news, events and information to our 600+ local 448 members. Like any well-planned and useful website, our website will never be “completed” or “finished”; we will make regular updates to it as new information and needs dictate.

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