Union supporters rally in Gurnee for collective bargaining
By Beth Kramer ekramer@stmedianetwork.com April 7, 2011 9:48PM
Mike McGue, president of the Lake County Federation of Teachers, speaks during a rally in support of unions and collective bargaining rights outside the teachers union office in Gurnee on Thursday. | Ryan Pagelow ~ Sun-Times Media
All-Illinois Rally
Date: Saturday, April 9
Where: Daley Plaza, Chicago
Time: noon march to plaza from Hyatt Regency Hotel, 151 E. Wacker
More info: www.iafl-cio.org
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Updated: June 7, 2011 7:06PM
GURNEE — Hundreds of union supporters and members rallied together Thursday to sing, chant and picket along Route 41.
“We’re trying to rally people to make sure our Legislature doesn’t take away our collective bargaining rights,” said Lake County Federation of Teachers President Mike McGue. “This is a preemptive strike to forestall what happened in Wisconsin from happening in Illinois.”
Rally attendees waved signs that read “We are One” and “Collective Bargaining is the American Way.” Solidarity with the plight of union workers was expressed.
Matthew Beverly, LCFT field service agent, shared about the two weeks he spent in Wisconsin with union members.
“A lot of (Wisconsin) teachers said they didn’t understand how they became the scapegoats. This is not right or fair,” Beverly said. “There is no doubt we are under attack. Our middle class and our ability to achieve the American Dream is under attack.”
Zion resident Diane Ower, who teaches second grade in Waukegan, went to Madison three times and was among the rally attendees Thursday.
“It’s important for them (Wisconsin teachers) to be supported. It is not just teachers up there. People recognize the significance of this,” Ower said.
Ower is a member of the Waukegan Council of Teachers and said she has been a union member since she was in high school.
She said she felt like her collective bargaining rights were in jeopardy.
“Collective bargaining gives you a voice, so I can impact my students in a great classroom atmosphere,” Ower said.
She brought a handmade sign that said “Solidarity.” Ower carried that sign in Wisconsin and she waved it in Gurnee Thursday.
Attendees from non-teacher unions showed their support at Thursday’s rally, too.
Patrick Statter, president of Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO) was one of the keynote speakers.
The Northeastern AFL-CIO represents 20,000 union workers in Lake and McHenry Counties, he said.
He led the crowd in chanting, “Union busting is disgusting!”
Statter encouraged the crowd to get involved with politics.
“Our vote is our voice — our voice for the right to collective bargain,” Statter said.
Retired Allied Pilots Association union member Tom Boyd of Hawthorn Woods was among Thursday’s attendees.
“I’m here because I support collective bargaining rights very strongly. They are under attack like I’ve never seen in my entire life,” Boyd said.
He has been a union member since 1976. He said he considers collective bargaining a basic American right.
“Whoever wants to take that away is on the wrong side of history,” Boyd said.
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