Suit seeks to stop layoffs
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed a lawsuit Aug. 24 to block Gov. Pat Quinn from laying off 2,600 state employees.
The lawsuit was filed in Johnson County, home of the Vienna Correctional Center.
Related Story: Prison layoffs possible: Public, workers’ safety fears arise from union, sheriff
It alleges that the state violated the AFSCME contract by failing to discuss the effect the layoffs would have on workers, and that the layoffs pose a serious health and safety risk to those remaining at what the union considers already understaffed correctional centers.
“You have to consider the fact that prisons already are severely short of staff and, as a result, there is an increasing danger for employees and inmates alike,” AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall said. “These layoffs will cause irreparable harm if the state moves forward.”
At this point, 419 prison workers are scheduled to be laid off at the end of the month at correctional centers in Decatur, East Moline, Lincoln, Logan, Vandalia and Vienna.
The first hearing on the suit is Thursday in Vienna.
