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Organizational history
In the 1930s, during the depths of the Depression, a small group of government workers in Wisconsin banded together to protect their jobs and the public services they provided. AFSCME grew out of this association. In 1936, AFSCME received a charter from the American Federation of Labor. AFSCME had 240,000 members in 1964. Over the next two decades AFSCME grew to a membership of one million and established a national reputation as a progressive and democratic union, fighting for the interests of all working people. AFSCME is the largest union in the AFL-CIO
with 1.3 million members.
In Illinois, the first local union was formed in 1942, with just 20 members. During the '50s and '60s, dozens of groups of city, county and school district employees formed AFSCME local unions and negotiated contracts. But AFSCME members had no legal guarantee of their right to collective bargaining. Management could always refuse to negotiate with the union. But in 1973 AFSCME won a major breakthrough when Gov. Daniel Walker agreed to grant union rights to state employees. With a base of local unions already functioning in most state corrections and mental health facilities, AFSCME launched a massive organizing drive among state workers in 1974 and 1975. This resulted in the organization of 40,000 employees and the formation of AFSCME Illinois Council 31. After years of intense legislative work, in 1983 AFSCME won passage of laws granting union rights to virtually every public employee in Illinois. Winning these rights touched off another tremendous wave of organizing across the state, which increased the number of AFSCME-represented public workers in Illinois from 40,000 to 60,000. Over the last 15 years Council 31 has grown to 75,000 members and expanded its presence in the political and legislative arena. AFSCME is now a leading voice for working families in the state of Illinois. Today the union is organizing public service workers and winning new benefits for the employees it already represents. Council leadership
Henry Bayer, Executive Director
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More than 25 years ago, Henry Bayer became an organizer with AFSCME in Chicago. Soon after, in 1976, he directed the successful campaign to win representation rights for 12,000 state para-professional and professional employees. He's been aggressively building the numbers and the influence of Council 31 ever since, assuming his position as Executive Director in 1993.
A native of New Hampshire, he moved to Chicago in 1968 to teach in the Chicago Public Schools. He soon moved into the labor movement, though, accepting an education position with the Amalgamated Meatcutters Union before joining AFSCME.
Roberta Lynch, Deputy Director
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Roberta Lynch came to Council 31 after serving as Research Director of the Chicago Area Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. Her first post with the Council was as Public Policy Director, a position she assumed in 1984. She became deputy director in 1993. Lynch’s career has been dedicated to the rights of working people, to equal opportunity, to economic justice. A Philadelphia native, she is a graduate of Duquesne University and was previously involved in a number of community and political organizing efforts. She is also the co-author of Rusted Dreams: Hard Times in a Steel Community, which chronicles the decline of the steel industry in Southeast Chicago.
Council 31 Executive Board Officers
Henry Bayer
Local 2258
Executive Director/President
James Atkins
Stateville Correctional Center, Local 1866
State Executive Vice President
Herdastine Williams
Cook County Hospital, Local 1111
City/County Executive Vice President
Judy Stoll
U. of I. Clerical and Administrative Employees, Local 3700
University Executive Vice President:
Ida Calloway
Tinley Park Mental Health Center, Local 159l
Treasurer
Caryl Foy
Shapiro Developmental Center, Local 29
Secretary
Board Members
State Conference Board Chairs
Gloria Arseneau, DCFS, Northeastern Illinois State Employees, Local 2794
Lori Gaston, Dixon Correctional Center, Local 817
Barbara Strong, DCFS, Cook County, Local 2081
Don Todd, DHS, Lincoln Development Center, Local 425
Region I Vice Presidents
(Cook and Lake Counties)
Alyce Bond, Ludeman Developmental Center, Local 2645
Barney Franklin, City of Chicago, Local 2946
Barbara Nicosia, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk, Local 3368
Patricia Ousley, DES, Chicago Area, Local 1006
Cynthia Pennick, City of Chicago, Local 505
Sam Rossi, Departments of Revenue and Lottery, Local 2467
Evelyn Stewart, City of Chicago, Local 1215
Region II Vice Presidents
(Northern Illinois)
Denny Biester, Dixon Developmental Center, Local 172
Rob Fanti, Sheridan Correctional Center, Local 472
Barb Johnson, Rockford School District #205, Local 1275
Tony McCubbin, East Moline Correctional Center, Local 46
Norman Neely, IYC St. Charles, Local 416
Sherry Williams, Will County, Local 1028
Region III Vice Presidents
(Central Illinois)
Jeff Barfield, Western Ill. Correctional Center, Local 3567
Ed Good, Decatur Correctional Center, Local 632
Elaine Meredith, State Employees Springfield Area, Local 2224
David Morris, DCFS Springfield, Local 805
Darrell Robertson, Taylorville Correctional Center, Local 3653
Marvin Shoop, City of Peoria, Local 3464
Region IV Vice Presidents
(Southern Illinois)
Louise Beggs, Randolph County, Local 2402
David Ford, DHS, Murray Developmental Center, Local 401
Randy Hellman, Pinckneyville Correctional Center, Local 943
Jim Laurent, Chester Mental Health Center, Local 424
Ty Petersen, Shawnee Correctional Center, Local 3605
Retiree Chapter 31 Representative
Doris Clark
Trustees
Hewitt Douglass, Capitol Area, Human Services and Public Aid Employees, Local 2600
Pat Peterman, Southwestern Correctional Center, Local 3654
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