Cook County County assessor's employees unionize (over 300)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/794691,assessors021408.article

February 14, 2008
FROM STNG WIRE REPORTS

Employees in the Cook County Assessor's office have joined the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the largest union of Cook County workers.

The group of more than 300 employees in the assessor's office formed their union through a showing of majority interest, according to a release from AFSCME Council 31. Their petition was certified this week by the Illinois Labor Relations Board.

The newly organized employees are responsible for much of the work of the assessor's office, which primarily serves to evaluate commercial and residential property for tax purposes, the release said. Their duties include field inspections and assessments, taxpayer services, research, information technology, clerical support and more.

"We are pleased to welcome the assessor's frontline staff to our union family," Henry Bayer, executive director of Council 31 said in the release.

About 6,000 Cook County workers were already AFSCME members, including workers in the county health care system, probation office, public defender's office, state's attorney's support staff, clerical workers, sheriff's police and correctional employees.