NEWS FLASH
CHICAGO (CHICAGO URBAN DAILY)— Nearly 1,200 parking workers across Chicagoland voted Friday on whether to authorize a strike — and their contract expires today.
Teamsters Local 727 members who work for parking operators throughout the region cast ballots Friday to authorize an unfair labor practice strike. The vote comes as negotiations continue ahead of the October 31 expiration of the Master Parking Agreement, which covers workers at SP Plus/Metropolis, LAZ Parking, Interpark, ABM, Imperial/Reimagine Parking, Legacy Parking, ACE, Peoples Auto Park, and a dozen more operators across the city and suburbs.
The operators bargain as a group through the Chicago Parking Association. Local 727 says it has filed — or is preparing — unfair labor practice charges alleging refusal to bargain, failure to provide information, unilateral changes, retaliation, and unlawful surveillance.
“Our members keep parking operations running smoothly at airports, hospitals, hotels, office buildings, and entertainment venues across the greater Chicagoland area,” said John T. Coli Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 727. “These employers have repeatedly violated federal labor law while dragging their feet at the bargaining table and we will not tolerate this behavior.”
Steward Carolyn German put it in everyday terms: “People rely on us every day when they fly into Chicago, go to work, visit a hospital, or go to a Bears game. We take pride in that work, and we’re fighting for a contract that recognizes our contributions.”
A strike authorization is not a strike — it gives the union the power to call one if talks break down. But with the contract expiring on Halloween, the clock is now the story.
Stay tuned to Chicago Urban Daily as the vote count and the contract talks develop.
Reported by Chicago Urban Daily News. Visit chicagourbandailynews.com for updates.
