NEWS
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understaffing at CPL: a Partial history
Our fight against staffing cuts did not begin with this budget season. The cuts to staffing, security, and services proposed for the 2026 Chicago Public Library (CPL) budget are just the latest event in the ongoing trend of cuts at CPL. This history can get lost when we just think of a budget in relation…
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staff speeches from the budget hearing
Today, Tuesday, November 4th, our members rallied outside City Hall to draw attention to cuts to the library system in the proposed 2026 budget. We then went inside City Hall, where AFSCME Council 31 hosted a press conference at which three Local 1215 members and two alders spoke on behalf of the library. Those three…
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stories about understaffing – by branch
Ahead of the 2026 budget season, AFSCME Local 1215’s executive board asked our members to tell us how understaffing affects their work and well-being. Many of these stories are being shared on our Instagram, and you can help pressure the city to support the library by following us and liking, reposting and boosting our stories.…
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Members & Patrons: Tell your alders to fully fund CPL!
BUTTONS ALERT!! Local 1215 has buttons for staff to wear this budget season. The message is “Ask Me About Layoffs”– read more below on how you can respond, and how to speak to your own alder. step 1: wear a button, talk to patrons! [FYI! Wearing a union button in the workplace is a protected…
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2026 budget proposal includes quiet layoffs
Local 1215 Members, On Thursday, October 16, the Mayor’s office shared their 2026 budget proposal with the city. (Full text on the City Clerk’s website, jump to page 145 to see the section about the library.) Yesterday, the Better Government Association dropped their preliminary analysis of the budget. This budget strives to bolster the city…
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Written comment on the 2025 cpl budget
Chicago City Council held a hearing on Friday, November 8th, 2024, concerning the 2025 budgetary recommendations for Chicago Public Library. The proposed budget would cut 50 full-time equivalent vacancies at CPL. AFSCME Local 1215 submitted the following written statement to City Council in advance of the hearing: We, the members of the Chicago Public Library…
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CPL’s 2024 Budget Hearing on October 19
On Thursday, October 19, the Chicago Public Library will have its annual Budget Hearing with the City’s Committee on Budget and Government Operations. For logistical details on attending online or in person, see our Calendar event for the hearing. In preparation for the budget hearing, our union colleagues at AFSCME Council 31 review the proposed…