Bill Text: IL SR0552 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Margaret R. Blackshere.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-10-30 - Resolution Adopted [SR0552 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SR0552-Introduced.html

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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

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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

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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.