NEWS FLASH
CHICAGO (CHICAGO URBAN DAILY)— The vote is in, the contract is expired, and a strike could start as soon as today.
More than 98% of Chicago parking workers who cast ballots voted to authorize a strike, NBC Chicago reported Saturday evening, citing Chicago Tribune reporting. The contract covering the workers expired Saturday, October 31 — and now the walkout the union warned about could begin any day, starting Sunday.
Teamsters Local 727 represents workers at some of the busiest parking garages in the city — O’Hare and Midway airports, major hotels and hospitals, and Bulls and Bears games. Roughly 12,000 of the local’s members work across 15 parking companies, which bargain as a group through the Chicago Parking Association.
The union says the operators have violated labor law, including refusal to bargain, retaliation, and unlawful surveillance. The operators say otherwise. LAZ Parking told NBC Chicago: “The Chicago Parking Association is negotiating in good faith for an agreement in the mutual interest of all parties, including our employees and the customers we serve. We remain committed to the collective bargaining process.”
One more vote is coming first. The union says it was given a final offer and members will vote on it Monday — a vote a union representative said they expect to fail.
A strike authorization is not a strike. But with the contract gone and the authorization nearly unanimous, the power to walk out is now in the union’s hands — and Chicago drivers, travelers, and patients should plan for delays.
Stay tuned to Chicago Urban Daily as the strike decision and Monday’s vote develop.
Reported by Chicago Urban Daily News. Visit chicagourbandailynews.com for updates.
