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Press Releases

Illinois AFL-CIO Statement on Retirement of Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García

Chicago, IL – Today IL AFL-CIO President Tim Drea released the following statement in response to Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García’s retirement from U.S. Congress: A first-generation Mexican American and proud, longtime union member,…
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Illinois AFL-CIO Statement on the Passing of Al Llorens, President of the Illinois Education Association

Springfield - Today, the Illinois AFL-CIO released the following statement from President Tim Drea and Secretary-Treasurer Pat Devaney on the passing of IEA President Al Llorens: “On behalf of the Illinois AFL-CIO and hundreds of thousands…
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IL AFL-CIO Statement on the Passing of Governor Jim Edgar

Springfield, IL - Today, Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea released the following statement in response to Governor Jim Edgar’s passing. “Governor Jim Edgar was a true public servant in every sense of the word. He led Illinois with…
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September Newsletter – Illinois is Standing Up for Working Families this Labor Day

Dear friends: Labor Day is approaching, and it is important to remember that this is more than a holiday. It’s a reminder that every workplace protection, every step toward fair wages, and every safety standard we enjoy today was fought…
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August Newsletter – Unions: The Key to Leveling the Playing Field

Dear friends: Do you know how much more the nation’s top CEOs made compared to their workers last year? Twenty times more? Fifty times more? One hundred times more? Actually, the average S&P 500 CEO made 285 times what the median…
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Illinois AFL-CIO Statement on Retirement of Representative Danny Davis

Springfield - Today, the Illinois AFL-CIO released the following statement from President Tim Drea in response to Representative Danny Davis's announcement that he will not seek reelection in 2026: "Danny Davis’s story is a uniquely American…
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July Newsletter – A union made 4th of July

Dear friends: The Fourth of July is around the corner-- a day for celebrating our independence, freedom and reflecting on our nation's values of democracy and equality. We are also wrapping up Pride month at a time when many LGBTQ+ workers…
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 Southern Illinois Central Labor Council Swears in New Officers and Begins Operations for First Time Since 2020

West Frankfort, IL - Last Thursday, the Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea swore in 10 newly elected officers to the Southern Illinois Central Labor Council (SICLC). The SICLC has not had officers elected since the Spring of 2020. Over the…
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June Newsletter – Summer heats up as the Illinois General Assembly adjourns

Dear friends: The General Assembly adjourned in the early hours of June 1 without passing a number of labor’s priorities, most prominently fixing Tier 2 pensions or addressing the transit fiscal cliff. Despite tireless advocacy from the…
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