More than 560 support workers gain voice with county's largest union

Support staff in the office of the Cook County state's attorney have joined the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest union of Cook County workers.

The group of more than 560 state's attorney employees formed their union with AFSCME through a showing of majority interest. Their petition was certified this week by the Illinois Labor Relations Board.

"We are pleased to welcome the state's attorney's frontline staff to our union family," said Henry Bayer, executive director of AFSCME Council 31. "The state's attorney's office couldn't function without these dedicated men and women, and we look forward to helping them win the same fair pay, decent benefits and strong voice on the job already enjoyed by their 6,000 fellow AFSCME members who work for Cook County."

AFSCME is the largest union of Cook County employees. In addition to the state's attorney's support staff, AFSCME members in county government include health care workers, probation officers, public defenders, clerical workers and sheriff's police.