(GLEN ELLYN, ILLINOIS) - Taking the next step in their Union Organizing Campaign that kicked off in March, some 600 Employees of the College of DuPage (COD) in Glen Ellyn, Illinois have filed a majority interest petition with the Illinois Labor Relations Board.

Upon verifying that the petition includes the signatures of a majority of Employees, the Board will officially certify the Union as part of American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31.

The new Union - College of DuPage Staff United/AFSCME - will represent “Classified” Staff (including Administrative, Clerical, IT and similar Employees) whose work supports COD students and faculty.

About 50 College of DuPage Custodial Workers are already represented by AFSCME Local 8257. 

In the public letter that announced their Organizing Campaign in March, COD Employees wrote: “We are forming our Union because we are proud of the work we do to see our students and community thrive … [I]t’s time for Staff to have our own voice.”

College of DuPage is one of the top Community Colleges in the State.

Between its six satellite locations and on-line courses, it serves more than 20,000 students from DuPage, Cook and Will Counties each year. 

Employees have been frustrated over management’s erosion of their benefits over the years.

What tipped many over the edge was when the college released a compensation study and used that study to justify freezing the wages of many of the Staff.

To Continue Reading This Organizing Labor News Story, Go To: College of DuPage employees form union with AFSCME | AFSCME Council 31