AFSCME members picket against proposed budget cuts
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Thousands of care givers, child protection workers, correctional officers, state police and other frontline state employees represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31 held a statewide "Day of Action" on Thursday, March 15 with more than 50 events throughout Illinois.
Local AFSCME members participated in the "Day of Action" by holding a picket at MSU from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Over 50 people came out to stand in line to show their support against. Gov.?Quinn's budget plan. Individuals driving by honked their horns in support of the members picketing.
The events brought together public-service workers, community supporters and local elected officials to demonstrate the widespread opposition to Governor Pat Quinn's budget cuts, that AFSCME members believe, would undermine public safety, slash services for the most vulnerable and wipe out some 3,000 middle-class jobs.
The statewide Day of Action was a part of AFSCME's "No Quinn Cuts" campaign, which includes radio spots, a petition and a Facebook page, all accessible via www.NoQuinnCuts.com.
"There are over eighty assemblies similar to this one in Chester to bring attention to how harmful Governor Quinn's budget is. The Governor proposes to close fourteen various state facilities while he also professes his top priority is to create jobs. These closures would create severe economic damage to their respective communities as well as hurt us here at Menard. Tamms Prison is extremely important because it is designed to effectively manage the most violent inmates in the system. Overcrowded prisons can't safely absorb those inmates. Furthermore, the maximum security Mental Health facility here in Chester would be adversely impacted if other mental health facilities closed because they would be overcrowded with patients that would no longer be able to step down to those other facilities. These cuts throughout the state will clearly threaten public safety here in our community. Governor Quinn was anxious to sign tax cuts for big companies like Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Sears which defies logic. Just how did that benefit this state if we can't afford to safely provide vital services to corrections, mental health, and those with disabilities? The loss of thousands of middle class jobs and vital services will impact us all, and because Governor Quinn's cuts include parole and state police, every community will be less safe. We are asking everyone concerned about keeping their families safe and providing services for the state's most vulnerable to contact their legislators to ask them to support a budget that doesn't cut middle class jobs. Please also sign our petition at www.NoQuinnCuts.com," said AFSCME 1175 President Kevin Hirsch.