Members of Service Employees International Union Local 73, which represents most Illinois secretary of state workers, have voted to reject the state?s latest contract offer and authorize a strike. The union wants to bring wages in line with what secretary of state workers in similar jobs in other unions make. In the meantime both sides will continue to negotiate, but the union could initiate a four-day strike beginning Aug. 16.
See "State workers give OK for 4-day strike", Chris Young, Chicago Tribune, July 26, 2004