Chicago Park District

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Union meeting for CPD/CPS Bargaining Unit Members

grasscutter126

Saturday March 20
Chicago (Teamster City)
10 a.m. -- noon

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CONTRACT UPDATE -- JANUARY 15, 2010

     Per a message from the Chicago Park District in response to an inquiry from SEIU Local 73, the 2010 contract increase is to happen as follows:

     Chicago Park District Human Resources Director Beka Reierson is scheduled to present the new Collective Bargaining Agreement to the Chicago Park District Board of Directors on Wednesday January 20, 2010.
     Approval is expected.
     Thereafter, the 2.75 percent increase will appear on the January 29th paycheck.
     Retro pay back to January 1, 2010 should appear in the following pay period.

CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT MEMBERS
RATIFY CONTRACT BY 4-TO-1 MARGIN

     (December 30, 2009)
     After a year and a half of tough bargaining, Local 73 Chicago Park District members finally have a new contract.
     Chicago Park District members voted to ratify the four-year agreement by an overwhelming 4-to-1 margin.
     The contract won a wage increase for members, while promoting job security, economic security and fairness on the job.
     Health insurance benefits will remain unchanged for members.
     Members also won the right to binding arbitration of terminations and suspensions on a one-year trial basis.
     Job security and a fair wage increase during these uncertain economic times were the most challenging issues in the contract negotiations.
     Members averted threatened layoffs by agreeing to take eight furlough days in 2010.  
     "Congratulations to our bargaining commmittee," said Union Representative Frank Klein. "They worked very hard to secure this agreement amid the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression and their effort was recognized by our Chicago Park District members."


         

DIVISION UPDATE: NOVEMBER 2009

OUTSTANDING GRIEVANCE ISSUES
    Local 73 has been holding meetings with Chicago Park District management to discuss outstanding grievance issues. We have been working hard to resolve these issues for park district members. Our goal is to clear out any old, outstanding grievances as soon as possible.

DIVISION MEETING
     We will be holding a meeting of Chicago Park District division members to discuss CPD issues in the late winter or early spring of 2010. The date and time and location will be announced soon.

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

     An update on contract negotiations will be posted on the Web site in the near future. In addition, union representatives will be out in the parks distributing a printed version of this bargaining bulletin.

HOURLY REDUCTION CASE
     After a seven-year battle, the wait is finally over and Chicago Park District union members are finally receiving their just due in an hourly-reduction case.
     The union has completed a compliance agreement under the jurisdiction of the labor board in a case that went from a grievance to arbitration, and finally through the court system, where the Illinois Supreme Court twice rejected the CPD's request to hear the case.

     Under terms of the settlement:
"The Chicago Park District is required to compensate current or former members of SEIU Local 73 who were:
(1) HOURLY EMPLOYEES whose hours were reduced during 2001 and/or 2002;
(2) who held the title of HOURLY INSTRUCTOR, or HOURLY RECREATIONAL LEADER; and
(3) who were regularly scheduled to work at least 25 hours per week before suffering a reduction in hours in 2001 and/or 2002. This means if you were not regularly scheduled to work 25 or more hours a week during 2001 and/or 2002 then you are not eligible for compensation."

    Many of the eligible members have received their long-awaited compensation for their reduction of hours. 
     Meetings are scheduled at the labor board with union and Chicago Park District representatives to ensure that the park district is in compliance with the settlement agreement.
     Also, the union is able to review the manner in which people are being compensated. Local 73 is also keeping track of cases in which members have put in appeals.

LOCAL 73 HOLIDAY PARTY      
     You are cordially invited to come out to Plumbers Hall on SATURDAY DECEMBER 12 (NOTE THE NEW DATE!!!) for the Local 73 Holiday Party. The celebration of the season begins at 7 p.m. and ends at midnight. The address is 1340 W. Washington Blvd. in Chicago. Admission is $5. By far, it's the best $5 party in the city.

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS?
     If you need to reach us for any reason, call the SEIU Local 73 Member Resource Center at 1-312-588-7630 or 1-888-734-8573.