The following op-ed is written by Henry Bayer, executive director of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31.
Wherever we live and whatever political party we identify with, most Americans agree on a few basic things.
We
believe that those who work hard should have decent pay, affordable
health care, security in retirement and respect on the job — and that
government should provide essential services, like good schools for our
children, safe streets for our families and a safety net for the most
vulnerable, including the elderly, disabled, at-risk kids and unemployed
workers.
Despite this common-sense consensus in support of vital
public services and the men and women who provide them, a chorus of
corporate special interests are echoing extreme attacks on workers and
their rights. And far too many politicians are listening.
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The Chicago Federation of Labor has made a major television ad buy with a 30-second message making an appeal to elected officials and constituents about the fiscal cliff. The ad notes that although the election may have been a victory for Democrats at the local and national levels, "the fight has just begun."
Concerns over the fate of the nation’s social safety net were
expressed this week in an elaborate demonstration held by a group of
area clergy members outside of the downtown Chicago office of U.S. Sen.
Richard Durbin.
The following was written by Anders Lindall, spokesman for AFSCME Council 31, in response to the 
The following op-ed is by Brooke Anderson, Press Secretary to Governor Pat Quinn.
As the days draw closer to October 1, when about 375 state
social workers will be laid off, a group of more than 350 angry Illinois
Department of Child and Family Service (DCFS) employees showed up at Gov. Pat
Quinn’s Chicago office Tuesday afternoon to decry recent budget cuts. 
