CHICAGO — The union that represents 250 paralegals and clerical workers who work for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has authorized a strike.

They're members of the Illinois Federation of Public Employees, which has spent a year in contract talks with Madigan's office. The union says 88 percent voted to authorize a strike if negotiations fail. Most of the workers are in Chicago, while almost 80 work in Springfield and a dozen are at other locations.

The union is asking for a one-time stipend instead of a salary increase, and a spokeswoman argues money from recent settlements reached by the AG's office should be used to cover the stipend.