Latest news with #CeceliaPhillips
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
AFSCME protests at Champaign Co. Courthouse, warns of possible strike if new contract isn't complete soon
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees gathered to picket outside of the Champaign County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon. They said the major 'sticking points' in negotiations has been about pay and insurance. The union's previous agreement with the county expired at the end of last year, and a vote last month saw 96% of votes were in favor of a strike if necessary. 'It was high time that something was done': Tolono passes parental responsibility ordinance 'When the workers don't show up for the courthouse, how's court going to happen? You know, if animal control isn't there, how are the animals going to be taken care of? How are the citizens of Champaign County going to be taken care of,' said Cecelia Phillips, local AFSCME president. 'It's not something we want to do because we all love our jobs; we love what we do. But it's also important that at the end of the day, we go home and can put food on our tables.' There are two more planned mediated negotiation sessions. Phillips said if a new contract isn't done by then, a strike could happen. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AFSCME files intent to strike; Champaign Co. employees, admin fail to reach middle ground
URBANA. (WCIA) — Some Champaign County employees could be striking as soon as Tuesday after contract negotiations with the administration failed to reach a middle ground. AFSCME filed an intent to strike as more than 90% were in favor of the motion on June 30th, which means a potential strike could happen as soon as Tuesday. READ MORE: AFSCME protests at Champaign Co. Courthouse, warns of possible strike if new contract isn't complete soon The union' president said they decided to go through with the filing because they feel like administration is taking them as a joke. In the beginning of May, employees first addressed the issue with a rally in front of the courthouse. The workers are asking for fair wages and affordable health care. The union president said since May, they've had more negotiating meetings, but the problem is that workers and administration still can't find a middle a ground. 'We really don't want to have to do this,' AFSCME Local 900 President Cecelia Phillips said. 'It is in management's court to not make a strike happen. But we will stand firm and we will stand strong and we will stand united for affordable health care, livable wages.' Phillips said if they do go on strike, they aren't sure how long it'll last. The next negotiation meeting is Monday. 'We reached out to Champaign County Executive Steve Summers who said: 'County administration and AFSCME have been meeting with a mediator and additional sessions are scheduled for next week,' Summer said. 'We continue to see productive movement on both sides and are committed to continuing negotiations until we reach a fair and equitable agreement.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Champaign Co. employees will strike Wednesday if no agreement reached
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County employees plan to strike beginning Wednesday if a new contract is not settled before then. In May, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) workers voted to authorize a strike if necessary — after their previous agreement expired at the end of last year. Then on June 30, county workers represented by AFSCME sent a five-day notice of the union's intent to strike to county management. The county workers said they're fighting for fair wages and to keep health insurance costs low. Champaign Co. workers rallying for better contracts 'For too many of us, county wages aren't living wages. They start at less than $16 an hour, and a third of all county workers make less than $20 an hour,' Cecelia Phillips, a Deputy Clerk in the Circuit Clerk's office and president of AFSCME Local 900, said in a news release. 'Yet management has barely moved at the bargaining table, and they won't offer us any guarantee that our health insurance costs won't spike by as much as 150%. That's unacceptable.' Bargaining began at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Union representatives said they plan to to stay at the table 'as long as it takes' to reach an agreement. 'When we took our strike vote in May, we said clearly that while nobody wants to strike, we're willing to do what's necessary to ensure fair pay and affordable health care,' Phillips said. 'The time for talk is over; now it's time for action.' PREVIOUSLY: AFSCME protests at Champaign Co. Courthouse, warns of possible strike if new contract isn't complete soon AFSCME members include Courthouse, Brookens Administrative Center, the Highway Department, Animal Control, the Coroner's office, and County Jail workers. WCIA reached out to Steve Summers, the county executive, for a statement regarding county workers planning to strike if a new contract is not settled. 'County Administration and AFSCME are meeting with a mediator today. The County is committed to continuing negotiations until we reach a fair and equitable agreement,' Summers said in a statement sent to WCIA. WCIA will continue to provide more information once it becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
