By AP/KWMU
Springfield, Ill – Scores of state employees hit the sidewalks Monday to protest slow movement in contract negotiations between their union and the governor's office.
Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 are conducting informational pickets at more than 100 locations statewide.
That includes state prisons, mental health centers and other office buildings.
The union represents 37,000 state workers, and has been in negotiations for months with Governor Blagojevich's administration for a new contract. The current deal expires June 30th.
The union says the governor's office is asking for major concessions that would cost employees increases in health care costs and cuts in other benefits that would amount to salary losses.