Statement from Keith Kelleher, SEIU Healthcare Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas:

Armean Allen

It is with great sadness that I am writing to notify our staff and membership of the passing of one of our great members and leaders, Armean Allen.

Armean was an active member and leader in HCII and Legacy Local 880 for over 25 years – first as a rank and file member, and later as a leader, steward, Executive Board member and Officer.

She filled many roles in our union and was a mother to many of us as we built the union together over the years.

She was a veteran of the Great Migration, who came to Chicago from down South and worked all her life in many hard, backbreaking jobs in factories, in hotels, and other service occupations, and then finally became a homecare worker later in life.

She was a union person, who helped organize the union in one of the factories and was a key leader in the 25 year fight to win recognition at Department of Human Services/Office ofRehabilitative Services (DHS/ORS), and served on the bargaining committee and helped to negotiate the contracts that brought $13 an hour and health insurance to over 25,000 Personal Assistants at DHS/ORS.

But what I will remember most about Armean was her spirit, her belief in her principles, and her rock-sold character. Whether it was negotiating with the state, or debating an issue, or getting arrested for the union, Armean was always at the action, always in the thick of things, and never shy about expressing her opinions.

Whether it was talking to a police officer about to arrest her or winning the debate within our caucus to defend the right to marriage for our gay sisters and brothers at the 2004 SEIU convention, she was not one to shy away.

And she believed in ACTION!  I can remember many days when Armean would be out door-knocking for a political candidate, or helping to lead a picket line or action on labor, as well as community issues.

She was willing to literally put her body on the line —  In June of 2003, when then-Governor Ryan tried to cut tens of millions of dollars from the state homecare programs, Armean, then in her early 80s, led the march of the “STOP the CUTS SIX”  chanting and singing into the state of Illinois Center, sat down in front of the elevators, and continued chanting and singing as the police were carrying the others away.

When the police came to her, she asked the arresting officer, “why are you arresting me,” and he said that they were arresting her for singing, she replied, “Arresting people for singing, why don’t you go to the Gospel Fest – lots of people singing over there!”

She had an unbreakable spirit.

She led a full life, and helped to improve life  for tens of thousands of workers and consumers.

We are all better for having known her.

Please remember Armean and her family in your thoughts and prayers.