Illinois workers protest against proposed hike in healthcare costs

More than 4,000 state workers swarmed the streets of Springfield, IL,  to protest a proposal to hike their healthcare costs. Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees would pay $100 million more in healthcare costs during a four-year contract under Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s proposal, said union representatives. "The healthcare governor who has made healthcare affordable and accessible to hundreds of thousands of Illinois citizens is trying to make it unaffordable and inaccessible for tens of thousands of state and university employees and their families," Henry Bayer, AFSCME Council 31 executive director, told the Chicago Tribune.