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Labor Day 2008 - Turn America Around

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State Federation Turns 50 This Year

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Illinois AFL-CIO state charter.

The State Federation received its AFL-CIO charter on October 7, 1958 from then president of the national AFL-CIO George Meany, just three years after the merger of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1955. 

“This is quite a milestone for our state federation,” said Michael Carrigan, current president.  “We can definitely be proud of the fact that we have grown and prospered and stayed united all of these years.  It’s a tribute to the leaders who came before me and to our affiliates for supporting their state organization financially and tangibly.  Today we can be proud of the fact that we are the fourth largest union state in American with nearly 900,000 members and that through our solidarity we have strong political and legislative power and some of the toughest, most aggressive labor laws in the country. Illinois is a union state. We can take pride in that.”

The names on the original charter that is located just inside the Illinois AFL-CIO offices in Springfield on the second floor are: R.G. Soderstrom, president; Stanley L. Johnson, secretary-treasurer; M.F. McElligott, Joseph Seppi, Joseph Germano, Earl McMahon, Robert Johnston, Charles Hayes, Sam Banansinga, Edgar F. Smith, Henry Anderson, William Stuhr, Richard Reinke, Anna Kimington, Andrew A. Westley, Earl McGrew, Madge King, Thomas Burke, and George Bynum.

Since the State Federation was chartered, there have been seven presidents including; Rueben Soderstrom (1955-1971), Stanley Johnson (1971-1979), Robert Gibson (1979-1989), Richard Walsh (1989-1993), Don Johnson (1993-2000), Margaret Blackshere (2000-2007) and current president Michael Carrigan,  who was elected in 2007.

The AFL-CIO national constitution permits the charter and organization of state, regional, local and city-wide governing bodies. Each body has its own charter, which establishes its jurisdiction, governance structure, mission, and each statehas its own federation. State federations are entitled to representation and voting rights at the quadrennial national conventions.

"On behalf of the officers and Executive Council of the national AFL-CIO I want to congratulate the Illinois State Federation on fifty years of affiliation and say thank you for your great achievements for working families in Illinois," said John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO.  "State and local federations are the heart of our nation's union movement.  Illinois is a great place for working families to live, and that is due in large part to the hard work of past and present union leaders and members throughout the state.   You exemplify the best of the labor movement and I wish you much continued success."

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations is the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions representing more than 10 million workers.  

Illinois AFL-CIO Moves to Burr Ridge

New Location for Chicago Office

The Illinois AFL-CIO has moved its Chicago-area offices to the Construction and General Laborers’ District Council of Chicago and Vicinity building in Burr Ridge. 

The State Federation has a large portion of the ground floor office space with access to a large conference/meeting room and kitchen.  The offices are located just inside the first-floor doors on the east side of the building. 

“This move was made after much deliberation,” said President Michael T. Carrigan.  “There are pros and cons about being downtown Chicago and there are good and bad issues about having an office outside the city.  We looked at all of our options and painstakingly weighed all the financial and work-related facts.  In the end we felt moving to Burr Ridge was the best decision for us at this time.”

The Illinois AFL-CIO Executive Board voted last year to give Carrigan and Secretary-Treasurer Tim Drea the authority to make the final decision on moving the offices based on what was best for the organization.

The State Federation used FCL Builders to build out the office space to fit its needs. The entire project took only two months to complete.

“The large shared conference room at this facility will be convenient for holding our Executive Board meetings and other gatherings in the Chicago-area,” said Carrigan.  “Of course we are sharing the building with several other organizations so we will also be sharing the meeting rooms.  But our previous downtown Chicago office didn’t allow for us to hold meetings if we had more than 8-10 people.  It was pretty cramped.  This building also has plenty of complimentary parking for employees and guests.”

Illinois AFL-CIO Field Director Alvis Martin will have an office in the new location as will MAP staff members Ruben Del Leon, Ismael Parez, and Milton Parker.  AFL-CIO Midwest Region Senior Field Representative Ramon Becerra will also have an office at the Burr Ridge location.

The Laborers’ District Council building was completed in 2004 and is located in the industrial park area just off South County Line Road near the 276A Exit off Interstate 55.

The new office address is Illinois AFL-CIO, 999 McClintock Drive, Suite 100, Burr Ridge, IL 60527.  The general phone and fax numbers have not changed – they are 312.251.1414 and 312.251.1420.

Illinois AFL-CIO Convention Oct. 8-10

The Illinois AFL-CIO will hold its 38th Constitutional Convention October 8-10 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago. 

This year’s convention will focus on Labor ’08 information, the upcoming General Election and Labor endorsed candidates at both the state and federal levels.  The State Federation Convention will be held six weeks after the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Convention – giving our delegates a chance to get up-to-date information on the endorsed Presidential candidate and to hear from state and federal candidates. 

The Convention body will hold an election of Illinois AFL-CIO officers and executive board members on Thursday, Oct. 9.  According to the State Federation Constitution, all affiliated unions in good standing can be represented at the convention.  The number of delegate votes allowed is based on the average number of members that the union has paid per capita tax on during the twenty-four (24) month period ending on March 31st immediately preceding the convention. 

So to cast votes for Illinois AFL-CIO officers and executive board members at the 2008 convention, per capita dues had to have been received at the State Federation office by March 31, 2008.

The State Federation body will also be adopting the resolutions that will serve as a decision making guide for officers and executive board members. Delegates who want to introduce resolutions during the convention should email a copy of each resolution to Secretary-Treasurer Tim Drea at  tim.drea@ilafl-cio.org at least one month prior to the convention.

Affiliates will be receiving more information on the convention agenda and accommodations at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in the coming months.