SR0552 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0552 LRB101 12957 MST 61793 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Margaret R. Blackshere, who passed away on July 6, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Blackshere was raised in North Venice by her mother, Frances, and her aunt, Margie; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Blackshere began her career in education as a kindergarten teacher in Madison after obtaining her master's degree in education at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville (SIUE); while attending SIUE, she served as a student trustee and then as a trustee appointed by the governor; she organized the movement that led to the Madison teachers joining the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT); and

WHEREAS, Margaret Blackshere served at all levels of the labor movement from president of her local union (763) to statewide vice president of the IFT; in 1993, she was elected secretary-treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO; she was later elected as president and served two terms, the first woman to hold that position; she retired as president in February of 2007 and was given the status of president emeritus; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Blackshere spent her life working to elect worker-friendly legislators and state-wide officials; her efforts were key to passing legislation dealing with raising the minimum wage, expanding health care, enacting card check for public employees, revamping unemployment insurance, and revising workers' compensation laws; one of her greatest contributions was her ability to bring competing interests together; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Blackshere was involved in numerous organizations fighting for equality and social justice; she served with Illinois Women In Leadership and with a variety of other boards, councils, and coalitions, including the United Way of Illinois, the American Red Cross in Illinois, the Chicago Council of Foreign Relations, the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Board, the Alliance of Retired Americans Executive Board, the Industrial Commission's Self Insure's Advisory Board, the Chicago Metropolis 2020 Board, the Illinois Women's Institute for Leadership, the Transportation for Illinois Coalition, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Advisory Council, and the Board of Trustees of the Global Solidarity Center in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Blackshere received numerous awards, including the Labor Leader Award in 2000 from the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the Israel Peace Medal in 2000 from the State of Israel, and the Protector of Working People Award in 2002 from the Illinois State Crime Commission; she was the guest of honor in 2003 for Chicago's St Patrick's Day Parade; in 1998, she was inducted into the Illinois Labor History Society's Union Hall of Honor; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Blackshere was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention; she served as director of the Illinois Democratic Coordinated Campaign in 1990 and 1992 and was a member of the Democratic National Committee; and

WHEREAS, Margaret Blackshere was the loving mother of Michael (Catherine) and Thomas (Zoe); the devoted grandmother of Michael, Alex, Quinn, and Raquel Blackshere; and the fond sister of Patricia (the late Leroy) Smith; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Margaret R. Blackshere and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Margaret Blackshere as an expression of our deepest sympathy.