State Union Wins Partial Victory in Prison Closing Dispute

AFSCME, the union representing state prison employees won a partial victory Friday in a battle to prevent the state from closing several prisons, including one in Dwight. An arbitrator ordered the state Friday back to the bargaining table and refrain from shutting down the prisons until bargaining is completed. A judge will now hear a request Tuesday by the union for a temporary restraining order to prevent the transfer of inmates or the closing of the prisons. Governor Quinn originally wanted to shut the prisons in a cost cutting move by the end of August.