Local 73 members targeted for layoffs
as part of massive cuts in District U-46

March 16, 2010
     21 members of SEIU Local 73 are among the more than 1,000 workers who could be laid off in the second-largest school district in the state of Illinois.
     With a mounting deficit and anticipated cuts to state funding, the Elgin Area School District U-46 board approved layoffs for 1,037 employees Monday.
     The layoffs break down into 732 full-time teaching positions; 106 secretarial positions, 121 educational assistants; 54 transportation workers; and 24 administrators and non-union employees.
     The board will vote on 21 custodial layoffs and 21 food service layoffs at a later meeting, bringing the total number to 1,079.
     The 21 food service workers are members of SEIU Local 73 and represent 15.6 percent of the bargaining unit.
     Union Representative Terri Barnett spoke on behalf of our members at the school board meeting, pointing out that the food service workers are the lowest paid employees in the district.
     "Administrators have told me over and over again that the food service workers will not be laid off because they are financially self-sufficient." Barnett said.
     Barnett also said the board should review other issues, including the salaries of top administrators and the out-of-control cost of automobile stipends.

0315tbarnett

Coverage: courier-news.com, dailyherald.com, chicagotribune.com

TELL CONGRESS TO STAND UP FOR US
AND NOT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES

March 16, 2010

     SEIU is launching a new barrage of ads today in partnership with Health Care For America Now, urging constituents to call their congressman and push for a "yes" vote on health insurance reform.
     One of the ads will be running in the district of Rep. Brad Ellsworth, Democrat, of Indiana.
     The key 'final' vote on the legislation could take place in the House of Representatives late this week.
     Remember, if the insurance companies win, we lose. It's time to pass health insurance reform now: You can do your part by calling the SEIU hotline at 877-264-4226.

Click to read more and see the new ads (seiu.org)

QUINN REVISES PITCH FOR NEW REVENUE

Springfield
March 10, 2010

     In his budget address today, Gov. Pat Quinn tweaked, re-framed, and scaled back his plan to raise taxes to ease the state budget crisis.
     Quinn called for a 33 percent increase in the state income tax rate to raise money for education and ease deep cuts proposed in his new budget plan.
     His latest proposal, raising the tax rate from 3 percent to 4 percent, is more modest than any of his previous plans.

Click here for text and analysis at progressillinois.com
VIDEO: Gov. Quinn makes pitch for income tax hike
VIDEO: Speaker Madigan admires Gov. Quinn's 'courage'

Our division in the news:
Uproar over Lyons village manager

By Joseph Ruzich
Special to the Tribune
January 27, 2010

    Nine months have passed since the changing of the guard in Lyons, but the political infighting is still just as heated as during last spring's mayoral campaign.
     The village had to borrow almost $3 million in the summer to cover operating expenses and laid off numerous workers, including four in the Public Works Department, to cut expenses.
     Last week, about 200 SEIU Local 73 members protested in front of a giant inflatable rat outside village hall shouting, "Stop the lying, Lyons."
      They contend the layoffs were "political."

Read the entire story at chicagotribune.com

LOCAL 73, ALLIES DONATE HUNDREDS OF COATS, HATS, GLOVES TO OUR VETERANS

     The SEIU Local 73 Veterans Caucus would like to thank everyone who participated in our coat drive for veterans and their families.
     The effort was a smashing success with hundreds of coats, hats, scarfs and gloves collected for our brave fighting men and women.
      Teamsters Local 786 and Teamsters Joint Council 25 also participated in the effort -- as did the office of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

Photos: Veterans coat drive

» Read more