(12501) AFSCME Council 31, Local 3280, Bayer

AFSCME Illinois Council 31 Executive Director Henry Bayer speaks to a rally crowd supporting AFSCME Local 3280 members on strike.

Local 3280 consisted of workers at the veterans' home in Anna, Illinois, a privately run state facility. Workers made minimum wage or close to it, had no health benefits and no paid time off. The workers went on a six week strike and were joined on the picket line by patients, families of patients, and other community members. The employer eventually settled, agreeing to an 80% wage increase, health benefits, and paid holidays. In 2003, the state took over operations of the facility.