Champaign, IL (CHAMBANA TODAY) – Champaign County workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 900 voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new union contract agreement that was reached late Tuesday, just ahead of their Wednesday morning strike deadline.

The voting took place at worksite meetings where union members had the opportunity to review and ask questions about the new contract terms. In total, 94% of the votes cast were in favor of ratifying the agreement.

AFSCME members achieved their goals of keeping health insurance affordable by reducing premiums and maintaining current out-of-pocket costs. They also secured pay raises, particularly for the lowest-wage workers—the minimum wage for full-time employees was set to rise to $18 an hour from under $16. Additionally, the agreement ensured that all Animal Control employees would have access to the rabies vaccine at no cost, among other improvements.

“By sticking together and showing we’d do whatever was necessary—even strike—to get a fair contract, we made real progress and won real gains,” AFSCME Local 900 President Cece Phillips said. “We were all happy and relieved, but most of all we were proud, because we did this by standing together. That’s what a union is all about.”

AFSCME members worked in nearly every Champaign County department, including Highways, courts, the circuit clerk, assessor, coroner, auditor, treasurer, animal control, and more.