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February Newsletter – Fighting like hell for Illinois’ working families

Dear friends:

We have heard from many of you trying to comprehend the news at the federal level and its impact on everyday, Illinois working people. In Springfield, we are working diligently to pass pro-worker legislation and build power by demonstrating that labor will not sit still while the federal government tries to rob us of our hard won gains.

Across the state, we are out in full force to win the April 1 consolidated election. Central Labor Council’s issued candidate endorsements that can be found here. We are fighting like hell to defend our postal workers, to protect our transportation workers, to ensure a fair retirement for all workers and to create more pathways to good, union jobs for the next generation. The labor movement is standing its ground and will not back down.

Despite our impact locally, Illinoisans are still directly impacted by the reality of decisions coming from the Trump administration, and its devastating toll on our families and communities.

Earlier this month, President Trump’s first economic report card came in: in February, the economy added just 151,000 new jobs. Bosses announced plans for another 172,017 layoffs, a 245% increase over January. More than 450,000 workers are settling for part-time work instead of the full-time jobs they need—reflecting a harsher job market than we’ve had in years.

Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were directly responsible for the thousands of jobs lost in February because this unelected billionaire fired experienced, skilled and dedicated federal workers across the country without cause. DOGE also cuts critical jobs support by government contracts and grants — like veteran-owned small businesses contracted to modernize VA services, grants to nonprofits that enforce anti-housing discrimination law, and cuts to university research centers working on treatments for cancer and Alzheimer’s.

We are also seeing Trump escalate his attempt to eliminate the federal government’s role in education — a move that most Americans do not want because it would diminish opportunities for students and the future of our workforce. If Trump’s proposal is to take effect, Illinois would see massive job cuts, worsened teacher shortages and resources would be stripped from students who need them most.

Our education professionals are overworked and underpaid due to years of chronic underfunding — the proposed cuts would be devastating for teachers, counselors, social workers and everyone who works so hard to provide for our children.

We will not back down from the attacks on working people by the Trump administration. Our team is on-the-ground from Springfield to Chicago to Southern Illinois to ensure that Illinois remains the pro-labor bastion of the Midwest. The road ahead may be long and windy, but we have the strength of the Illinois labor movement behind us.

In solidarity,

Tim Drea, President and Pat Devaney, Secretary-Treasurer

Read the rest of the updates in our February newsletter here

January Newsletter – New Year, New General Assembly

Dear friends:

February is underway and we are hard at work in Springfield.

The new legislature was sworn in last month, and this past week, returned for the first full week of the 104th General Assembly.

On Thursday, we awoke to heartbreaking news when we learned about the Washington D.C. plane crash and lives lost. Our hearts are with our transportation unions, the United Association and entire labor movement who has been impacted by the Flight 5342 and helicopter tragedy at DCA.

We have also faced challenging news for labor and the human rights of our members, coming out of the anti-labor, Trump administration in the White House.

President Trump’s recent firing of NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox, the first Black woman to serve on the board, is illegal and will have immediate consequences for working people. By leaving only two board members in their posts, the President effectively shut down the National Labor Relations Board’s operations, leaving the workers it defends on their own in the face of union-busting and retaliation by employers.

Alongside his firing of NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, Trump has made it easier for bosses to violate the law and trample on workers’ legal rights on the job and fundamental freedom to organize.

While our challenges grow at the federal level, the Illinois labor movement is united and will always put workers’ rights first. Illinoisans know that a strong union workforce makes for a stronger, more successful Illinois and nation.

The Illinois AFL-CIO is hard at work in Springfield, tackling issues like protecting members hard earned pensions and ensuring that Illinois’ public transit systems are fully funded in the face of a $750 million budget deficit.

If left unaddressed, Illinois’ transit systems could face dramatic cuts, including major lay-offs, route or line eliminations, service cuts, station closures, and cancellation of planned expansions and necessary repairs. These drastic measures would further damage the region’s transit systems, and cause massive disruptions to the Illinois economy and workforce.

The Illinois legislature must pass a sustainable funding solution by the end of its Spring session this May to avoid these catastrophic consequences.

The Illinois AFL-CIO and Chicago Federation of Labor are leading the Labor Alliance for Public Transit (LAPT) to ensure lawmakers in Springfield pass legislation that will address the needs of the millions of people who rely on public transit everyday, from the train operators to the workers getting to and from work.

Working people deserve to have a secure future, whether it is protecting their pension, or ensuring that they can get to and from work on public transit. We are with you every day in Springfield to deliver on these promises.

Lastly, while the human rights abuses and news coming out of the Trump-Vance administration are alarming, we are also seeing our union siblings come together to stand up for ALL workers.

On February 7, our friends at the Chicago Federation of Labor will lead a training on how you and your union can be ready to defend the rights of all workers if ICE appears in your workplace. Register here for this important webinar.

As one labor movement united, we continue to stand strong and work together to advance the rights of all working people. We look forward to seeing you in Springfield and hearing from you soon.
In solidarity,

Tim Drea & Pat Devaney
President, IL AFL-CIO and Secretary-Treasurer, IL AFL-CIO

See more of our newsletter here.