Cook County Update April 2008

How Custodians' Seniority Was Honored

2007 saw the return of all the County custodial jobs after the union defeated attempts by the County to privatize. These members were given an additional building to clean in the Juvenile Detention Center, which previously had been done by a private contractor.

After the rehires, management arbitrarily and unfairly assigned the custodians to a shift and to a building. The Union righted this by fighting and winning the right to assign shifts based on seniority. As of now, the Local 73 custodians have their first or second choice of shift and building.

With the addition of the Detention Center, more custodians were needed to cover the work. The County hired nine new people, but it wasn't enough. No new hires have occurred since because of a County Board imposed hiring freeze on all departments. The cleaning still needed to be done, so management asked the union to agree to assign eight custodians to pick up the slack until more could be hired. Respecting building seniority, the temporary assignments were filled.

Two and a half months of temporary assignments are now over, and despite the new budget being passed, County departments have not yet received the money set aside for hiring. Another temporary reassignment agreement was reached, which will end in May. The union requested management find a permanent solution to the labor shortage and stop inconveniencing our members.

The union has cooperated to protect and secure the assignments members won through bidding. Because we compromised, management did not re-assign any of our members permanently.

Thanks to all the members who came out to support our union during the budget hearings. We are stronger together!