HR0147 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0147 LRB095 11400 KXB 32197 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Margaret Blackshere, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO, on her retirement in February of 2007; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Blackshere began her career as a teacher in Madison; she became involved in the labor movement when the faculty voted to join the Illinois Federation of Teachers; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Blackshere served as president of the Local and eventually became the statewide vice president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers; and

WHEREAS, In 1993 she was elected secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO and served in that capacity until her election as president in 2000; she was the first woman to be elected president of the AFL-CIO; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Blackshere has worked toward raising the minimum wage, protecting day laborers, reforming the workers compensation system, and making sure that women in Illinois receive equal pay for equal work; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Blackshere will be missed by her peers, but will continue to speak on behalf of workers across the State; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Margaret Blackshere on her retirement as President of the Illinois AFL-CIO; and we wish her good luck and good health in her future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Margaret Blackshere as a symbol of our esteem.