Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Several dozen member of AFSCME Local 370 braved rainy skies Thursday evening to march in an “informational picket line” in front of the SIU School of Medicine’s administration building.

They were protesting the lack of a contract after a year of negotiations and, what they feel, is an insufficient offer in light of the historic inflation the county is experiencing.

Tina McMillen, who sits on the local’s executive board, says the latest offer from the school is 3.3% hardly enough, she says, to keep up with the current inflation rate of 9.9%.

Michael Wilmore says his union represents about 800 rank and file but any union contract would affect many dozens of non-union workers including nurses, office staff, MAs, call center, anyone on the support team.