The employees who help keep the Forest Preserves of Cook County safe and usable are closer to a possible strike after nearly 200 union workers represented by Teamsters Local 700 voted to authorize a walkout and rejected the district's final contract offer.
What happened?
Under Illinois law, the vote gives Local 700's bargaining committee the option to call a strike, but not immediately; workers would first have to provide five days' notice, according to Patch.
The bargaining unit includes truck drivers, laborers, mechanics, and other staff. According to Patch, their work includes clearing roads, maintaining equipment, collecting trash, cleaning restrooms, carrying out prescribed burns, and helping keep preserve areas accessible.
Union members turned down the district's July 23 proposal, which it described as its "last, best and final" offer. Local 700 says union employees move through pay levels far more slowly than nonunion staff, estimating raises of about one-half of 1% for union workers versus step increases of roughly 5% for nonunion employees, according to Patch.
In a statement shared with Patch, the Forest Preserves of Cook County said, "The Forest Preserves will continue to negotiate with the union on their contract." The agency added, "We value and deeply appreciate the employees of the Forest Preserves."
Why does it matter?
The dispute affects a preserve system that spans more than 70,000 acres and receives about 62 million visits each year, according to Patch. That network includes forests, prairies, wetlands, rivers, trails, and recreation areas.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
If workers do strike, visitors could see disruptions in trash pickup, road clearing, vehicle maintenance, restroom cleaning, and trail access, with possible sanitation and safety consequences.
Ramon Williams, president of Teamsters Local 700, summed up the frustration this way: "The Forest Preserve District will tell you it values these workers, but its own pay scale says something different."
What's being done?
Negotiations are still underway, and the union has not announced a strike date.
Even so, state law would still require five days' notice before a strike could legally begin, according to Patch.
Workers have also formed a Contract Action Team to keep employees informed and involved during bargaining, senior resource technician Brannon Curtis-Wittenberg said. He warned, "If management refuses to make us a fair offer in the next five days, we will be ready to strike."
"This offer is a slap in the face," serviceman Bill Foley said. Laborer David Yokley added, "Without our work, many Forest Preserves spaces will become unsanitary and potentially dangerous."
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
