'End the Shutdown' - Local 777, Unions, and Elected Officials Rally on Federal Plaza

IFPTE Local 777’s Chicago District Chapter participated in a rally on October 8 calling for a just end to the shutdown on Federal Plaza in Chicago.

“The Trump administration has been shutting down the government services our communities rely on from day one; this unwelcome escalation is another jab at working people. From illegal purges of civil servants, to closing whole agencies, to sending agents and soldiers to scare communities away from public life, none of this aligns with the oath federal workers took and still believe in. The atrophy of constitutional checks and balances emboldens the billionaires, but federal workers remain here to stand for the public good,” said Local 777 President Colin Smalley.

In addition to IFPTE, the rally was planned and attended by workers from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU). In addition, the National Nurses United (NNU) assisted in planning the event, but is exempt from the shutdown and was therefore needed at the VA Hospitals.

The rally was successful in part due to excellent coordination with the Chicago Federation of Labor (the central labor council), the Federal Unionists Network (Chicago Hub), and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU).

Federal workers were joined at the rally by elected officials: Governor JB Pritzker, Congressman Sean Casten, Congressman Danny Davis, Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, three Illinois State Senators, three Illinois State Representatives, four commissioners of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, four aldermen of the Chicago City Council, and the Chicago City Clerk.

The rally was covered by the Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ and CBS, as well as many other media outlets. ABC posted a live stream of the rally speakers.