There's urgency in a call for unity on Wednesday in Rock Island.
With each chant, there's a cause for concern.
"Anybody that works for the state is terrified of the fact of shutting down services," said Carlene Erno, president of AFSCME Local 2615.
These state workers know that time is running out for a new contract. Their deal is done on July 1.
"Nobody else can do our jobs as well as we can do our jobs," said Mel Vogel, a DCFS worker at the rally.
While Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner praises state workers, he says that their salaries and benefits are out of touch with similar private sector jobs.
"We have a pay scale based primarily on seniority, not productivity," he said in Springfield on Tuesday. "Not on effectiveness, not on saving taxpayer money. We need to change that."
Union members say they won't be paid during a potential shutdown, but they're more concerned about the community impact.
"Support our community," Vogel continued. "That's what we do. That's what needs to be done. It needs to continue."
This sidewalk rally is being repeated in locations all over Illinois. It shows how the Springfield stalemate hits close to home.
"We don't want a shutdown, lockout or a strike," said Rob Sollars, president of AFSCME Local 46. "We want to keep services for the people of Illinois."
Governor Rauner says that good government must prevail over bad government.
He describes the dilemma as issues that pit working people against political insiders.
"Change is difficult," he said. "We've got to make change."
From this Rock Island rally, turnaround time seems to be running out.