
AFSCME Local 448 Northwestern Illinois State Employees Union / AFL-CIO / Council 31


AFSCME Local 448 Northwestern Illinois State Employees Union / AFL-CIO / Council 31

AFSCME Local 448 Northwestern Illinois State Employees Union / AFL-CIO / Council 31
AFSCME Local 448 . . . Proudly Representing Over 600 Workers in the Illinois Counties of Boone, Bureau, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago
Attention Golfers: Golf Outing May 13th!
Once again, this year we will be participating in the Annual AFSCME Golf Outing to benefit the Autism program at Kreider Services. Those of you who have participated in the past know what a fun golf outing this is. Our local will be sponsoring up to 10 teams of 4. The best-ball format golf outing will be held at Silver Ridge Golf Course, with registration beginning at 9am, and a shotgun start at 10am.To sign your team up please send the names of your team members to Alice Sutherland at presidentafscmelocal448@gmail.com ASAP. Slots fill up fast and are on a first-come, first-served, basis. Last year this outing sold out so don’t wait to sign up! If you want to golf but don't have a team, sign up and we'll find you a team!
Standing Up for a Fair Contract!
Negotiations for our union contract have been moving steadily forward over the past few months — but we still have a long way to go to reach the fair settlement that AFSCME members deserve.
Your AFSCME Bargaining Committee has put a large number of proposals on the table aimed at addressing a wide variety of problems that AFSCME members confront on the job — especially the current crisis of understaffing. We’ve made some progress, but not enough! The employer has put forth proposals that could jeopardize current rights on promotions, job assignment, transfer, or re-call. Your Bargaining Committee is determined to ensure that our contract language will continue to uphold those rights no matter what administrative changes are made.
Management negotiators are also continuing to press for changes that would expand reliance on mandatory overtime — and reduce overtime pay. The Union is resisting those changes. Several sub-committees have been established to address filling of vacancies, remote work, health insurance changes and the Upward Mobility Program. We are back at the bargaining table on April 18 when we’ll begin bargaining over economic proposals — higher wages, holding the line on health care costs, and better benefits. It will take ongoing activism at workplaces all across the state in solidarity with the AFSCME bargaining committee to demonstrate our
determination to secure a contract that recognizes the sacrifices that state employees made throughout the pandemic and the extreme demands that continue to be placed on so many due to the staffing shortages.
Watch for upcoming solidarity actions supporting our bargaining team!
2023 AFSCME Local 448 Cyndi Overton Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship serves as a memorial to AFSCME Local 448 Executive Board member Cyndi Overton. She will be remembered by her always present larger-than-life smile. Cyndi was ready to assist anyone whether at church, at home or at work. She epitomized the kind of parent, friend and coworker that we should all strive to be. Cindi Overton Memorial scholarship information which will be mailed to all worksites May 1. DOWNLOAD THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION HERE
Remote Work
I know everyone is curious as to what is going to happen with remote work come June 30th. While there is currently language in the contract dealing with remote work on a limited basis there have been many proposals submitted for negotiations that deal with continued remote work. Those proposals are being handled in a sub-committee at this time. While we know not all positions can work remotely we are doing our best to see that those that can will still be able to do so in some fashion.
Staff Monitoring
I have had several questions lately related to the Employer's “right” to monitor our work. Many are not happy that some employers seem to be keeping track of what staff is doing, especially while working remotely.
I don’t know why this comes as a surprise to some. Every morning when logging into our state systems there is an acknowledgement that the system is being monitored and the user should expect no privacy on the network.
Although you may not agree with it, the employer absolutely has the right to make sure you are performing your job duties during working hours. So whether you are working in the office or from home be prepared to account for the work you are, or are not, producing. After all, that is what we are being paid for.
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.
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.
I invite you to tour and experience the website, from page to page, to learn what we are sharing and communicating, and to also solicit from you what information our website lacks and needs. We look very forward to your review of the website, and any “wish list” items going forward. Email your comments to us at afscmecouncil31.local448@gmail.com, or by using this website's contact form. Also, while you are visiting the site, please be sure to sign up for emailed news alerts from us. Sign up takes just a moment, and it lets us build a database of local 448 members’ email addresses so that we can, as needs arise, email important and timely news and information to our membership.
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.
Meet Our Members
As you know, our Local represents employees in many State agencies throughout Northern Illinois. We would like to get to know each and every one of you better. So, if you would like to help us do that, answer the following questions and we will feature a different employee in each newsletter and here on the website. Email your submissions to Alice Sutherland at presidentafscmelocal448@gmail.com.
1. Tell us about your job, and let us know the agency you work for.
2. How does your job provide a valuable public service?
3. What's your inspiration to go to work every day?
4. How does your union improve your work?
5. How has your union job impacted your family?
Submit Your Photos!
Do you have any photos from your union workplace, union meetings and gatherings or other union-related events that can help tell a story about Local 448? If so, we'd like you to submit them to afscmecouncil31.local448@gmail.com for our review and possible use here on this website, and/or other AFSCME-related materials. When submitting images, please submit images in .jpg format and images should not exceed 2MB in file size. Also, please provide some brief information/caption regarding each submitted image. Thank you!
Membership meetings are held at least quarterly and always on the first Thursday of the month. Food will be served (when allowed) beginning at 5:30 pm with the meeting beginning promptly at 6:30 pm.
The next Membership Meeting is June 8th
via ZOOM
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Bad Addresses
If you move, don't forget to let your steward know your new address or send an email to Alice Sutherland. Each month, we get several newsletters back because members have moved and we don't have an updated address. If you know of someone who has moved, make sure to reach out to them and let them know they need to update their address with us. We want everyone to stay informed.
Your Right To
Union Representation:
WEINGARTEN RIGHTS
"If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated or have any effect on
my personal working conditions, I respectfully request my union representative, officer or steward to be present at this meeting. Without union representation, I choose not to participate in this discussion."
