Du Quoin Public Aid Office to Close

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Illinois Department of Health and Human Services says it plans to close Du Quoin's public aid office at 314 N. Maple Street and merge those operations with the Jackson County office in Murphysboro.

The seven employees in the Du Quoin office say they have been offered positions in the Murphysboro office, but it will mean a pay cut insomuch as the daily drive will be expensive.

The Du Quoin office is leased.

Illinois state workers and the American Federation of State and Municipal employees (AFSME) agreed to take a pay cut in July 0f 2010 with the promise from the state that there would be no more layoffs or closures of state facilities until at least 2012.

Earlier this month, employees of the local public aid office received word that this office will be closed May 31, 2011 and will be merged with the Murphysboro facility.

The state argues that so much of the office's work is now done by phone and over the internet that it becomes less important to have the same number of facilities dotting the state.

Employees argue it will not only create a hardship for them, but because of transportation issues will pose a huge hardship on clients.

According to one local employee, "Their plan is to have you utilize automated phone systems and the internet in order to apply and/or continue to receive benefits and in the process eliminate hundreds of jobs. This would be wonderful if everyone could afford a phone and a computer."

Those opposed to this plan are being invited to contact Rep. Mike Bost (618) 457-5787 or Sen. David Luechtefeld (618) 243-9014 or (618) 529-3866. You can also contact the Illinois Bureau of Civil Affairs at (217) 524-7068.