Will County News

Members of Moveon.org, SEIU Health Care Workers, and members of the community joined striking warehouse workers on the picket line outside the Schneider Logistics-run WalMart distribution center in Elwood, Illinois. Strike outside the WalMart warehouse in Elwood, IL Here a striking worker explains his experience in the WalMart warehouse: Strike outside the WalMart warehouse in Elwood, IL Strike outside the WalMart warehouse in Elwood, IL About 30 workers employed by Roadlink walked off the job after being told by Roadlink management they were no longer welcome in the warehouse after the workers presented Roadlink management a petition asking for better wages and working conditions.  Roadlink supplies workers for the warehouse which is run by Schneider.   WalMart contracts Schneider to run the warehouse and Schneider in turn grants contracts to staffing companies to supply workers for the warehouse.  There are also employees who are employed directly by Schneider. A

On Saturday September 15, 2012 workers employed by Roadlink Workforce Solutions working at the Schneider-run WalMart warehouse in Elwood presented management a petition asking for a living wage, a safe workplace, regular hours, and permanent jobs. According to Phillip Bailey, one of the workers who both presented the petition and is named in a lawsuit suing Roadlink for non-payment of wages, after the workers presented the petition, the workers were told they were "no longer welcome in the building."  Later, some of the workers received a phone message stating "they were suspended until pending management review."  Bailey said 5 or 6 people got that message.   After learning they were "no longer welcome in the building" about 30 workers walked out and went on strike for retaliation which is an unfair labor practice under the National Labor Relations Act.   Workers say they tried to petition management for better conditions, were retaliated agains

Warehouse workers working at the WalMart distribution center in Elwood, Illinois are on strike.  The warehouse is not run by WalMart, but by Schneider Logistics. According to a Warehouse Workers for Justice Press Release: "Workers at Wal-Mart's largest distribution center went on strike today to protest illegal retaliation and other labor abuses. "This comes just days after workers at the California warehouse that supplies Wal-Mart stores walked off the job to protest illegal retaliation and poor working conditions. " The workers are asking for people to support the workers by signing a petition to WalMart CEO Michael Duke and also by joining the strike line:  " We need your support now more than ever.  Please sign our petition to Walmart CEO Michael Duke. For those of you in the Chicago area, we'd like to invite you to join us on the strike line at 26453 Center Point Drive, Elwood, IL.  Please also consider donating to our strike fund. &quo

In February 2012 the historic Wilmington Train Depot was demolished to make way for upgrades to the track for high speed rail between Chicago and St. Louis: The Depot was remembered at the Will County Fair 2012.  Andrew Stanton of Wilmington created a model of the Depot and won Best of Show for his efforts: Model of the Wilmington Train Depot Model of Wilmington Train Depot Model of demolished Wilmington Train Depot Model of Wilmington Train Depot Model of Wilmington Train Depot Model of Wilmington Train Depot in the Exhibition Hall at the Will County Fair