The Illinois Legislative Staff Association…which represents employees of the Illinois General Assembly…released a statement Friday saying Speaker of the House Chris Welch continues to not recognize their union.

The statement says the ILSA has asked Welch to meet with the organization and that despite his outspoken pro-labor rhetoric and vocal support for the right of all employees in Illinois to unionize, he is apparently intent on denying this right to his own staff.

The ILSA states it will continue advocating on behalf of legislative staff until its members are heard and the union’s concerns are meaningfully addressed.