WHEREAS:
Employees of the Gateway Foundation, which operates the drug treatment program at the Sheridan Correctional Center under contract with the Illinois Department of Corrections, voted to be represented by AFSCME Council 31 in February 2005; and

WHEREAS:
Gateway has harassed and threatened workers for their union activities and unsuccessfully challenged the election, thereby delaying the start of negotiations by six months; and

WHEREAS:
Gateway is represented by the notorious anti-union law firm, Seyfarth Shaw; and

WHEREAS:
For more than seven months Gateway stonewalled at the bargaining table, offering no guaranteed wage increase despite the fact that Gateway counselors earn 45 percent less than their state counterparts doing the same work and pay exorbitantly high insurance premiums; and

WHEREAS:
Gateway’s refusal to bargain in good faith left employees no choice but to go out on strike, which they did on June 6; and

WHEREAS:
This strike is creating great financial hardship for these workers and has drastically curtailed the operation of the model drug treatment program at Sheridan Correctional Center; and

WHEREAS:
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has consistently refused to intervene to help settle this dispute with a state contractor despite the fact that previous administrations have acted to ensure responsible behavior by its contractors, and this administration has the authority to terminate the Gateway contract.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That this International Convention strongly supports the efforts of AFSCME members employed by Gateway to secure a fair contract, one which puts them on the path to parity with their state counterparts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the Convention applauds the courage and resolve of the Gateway strikers; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME calls upon Governor Blagojevich to demonstrate a commitment to workers’ rights and fairness on the job by terminating the state’s contract with Gateway, which has shown no evidence of being willing to bargain in good faith, and either contract with a vendor who will do so, or grant state employee status to Gateway employees and give them the full rights and benefits to which they are entitled.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY: Roberta Lynch, Delegate
AFSCME Local 3388, Council 31
Illinois