Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Some 600 workers at the College of DuPage filed a majority interest petition with the Illinois Labor Relations Board to form a union with AFSCME Council 31.
Once the board verifies that the petition includes the signatures of a majority of employees, it will officially certify the union.
The new union—College of DuPage Staff United/AFSCME—will represent “classified” staff, which includes administrative, clerical, information technology and similar employees.
The workers wrote in a statement, “We are forming our union because we are proud of the work we do to see our students and community thrive….It’s time for staff to have our own voice.”
The workers say their benefits have eroded over the years and salaries have been frozen for many staff.
“I love everything about what College of DuPage represents,” said Kim Still, who works in the school’s Veterans Services department. “I love what we do for the students. I love how we impact their lives. Every one of us has their hand in the students’ success here in one way or another. We’re a common good for our community and we deserve to be treated as such. We deserve better benefits. We deserve better wages. And we deserve to be heard,” Still said.