State of Illinois employees working in Galesburg say they're not being treated fairly by the state, and especially the Governor.  Employees of the Galesburg Department of Human Services and DCFS offices, along with Henry Hill Correctional Center Employees held an informational picket outside the downtown Galesburg DHS office. They're against Governor Rod Blagojevich's proposal that, among other things, would amount to what they say is a 50-percent increase in their out-of-pocket health care and retirement-related costs.

Ed Anderson is the president of AFSCME Local 1231 representing Hill employees, and tells WGIL if the state has a financial problem, the Governor needs to prove it.  "The State says they're in dire straits," Anderson said, "but the Governor seems like he's pretty good at hiding money.  I think that all the state workers throughout the state work very hard, and provide a great service, and they keep the people of Illinois safe, whether it's the prison or DHS and DCFS.  I think they do a great job, and I think that they deserve fair wages and fair health care and a fair retirement."

AFSCME employees have protested their contracts on a seemingly annual basis, and Anderson says that's okay, because sometimes it just takes time to get things done and get a fair contract.

The current contract expires at the end of June.

The Governor's Office says they're still negotiating in good faith with AFSCME.