![\"GE](\"http:\/\/www.progressivefox.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/laesch_union\/keep-your-word-2.jpg\"\n\t\t "\\"GE")
\n \t<\/a>\n\t\t <\/div>\n workers.\u00a0 The Aurora event\u00a0was part of a statewide, 75-rally day of action and a majority of the participants were AFSCME members.\u00a0 Representatives from other unions\u00a0and local businesses also participated in the action.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
AFSCME Local 2833 President Ruby Robinson said, “this is not just about negotiated pay increases, this is about protecting the right to collectively bargain for all union members in Illinois.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0Robinson also said that \n\t\t
\n \t<\/a>\n\t\t <\/div>\n Governor Quinn made the decision without contacting state employees or union representatives.\u00a0 “No other governor in the past, not even Blagojevich, has done this,”\u00a0said Robinson.<\/p>\nFailure to honor the collectively bargained contract does not fall only on Quinn’s shoulders.\u00a0 The excuse that Quinn has provided is to simply blame the Illinois General Assembly for failing to appropriate enough money in the budget.<\/p>\n
Another AFSCME spokesperson, Ade Alagbala, said the decision was unfair.\u00a0 “To take our wage increases, negotiated raises, is not fair and no excuse is good enough,” said Alagbala.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the most refreshing part of the rally was the incredible support that came from Aurora citizens who were driving by.\u00a0\u00a0Honks and waves were frequent and one couple even stopped by to join the rally.\u00a0 Lisa and Matt said\u00a0were just driving by and decided to stop because they saw people who were standing up for somthing.\u00a0 “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, so we stopped by to support this cause.\u00a0 It is the right cause,” said Matt.<\/p>\n
Here are some more pictures:<\/p>\n