CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- About 1,500 Cook County health care and sheriff's office employees walked off the job Tuesday morning for a one-day strike after their union was unable to come to an agreement with the county over pandemic pay and working conditions.
"Hazard pay! Hazard pay! Hazard pay!"
Outside of Stroger Hospital, members of SEIU Local 73 walked a picket line Tuesday morning demanding hazard pay.
"These workers have worked since the pandemic started. It is ridiculous that now we ask that you take care of us, that you don't. These are the citizens of Chicago. These are the people who have taken care of the sick...take this home to their families, threatening their families, losing their loved ones, losing their coworkers, watching people pass away from this terrible pandemic, and all we ask is that you take care of us," said Jeffery Howard, SEIU Local 73 Executive Vice President.
Those striking include technicians, service and maintenance workers at the county's hospitals, and employees of the Cook County Sheriff's Office fighting for an extra $5 an hour in hazard pay and stipulations for PPE and social distancing, including allowing employees to work remotely when possible.
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The union also wants 48 workers who lost their jobs when the Recorder of Deeds office was merged with the County Clerk’s office to be given jobs as contact tracers.
For nearly three months, SEIU Local 73 has attempted to bargain with Cook County. During which, the county has allegedly refused to set bargaining dates, cancelled bargaining dates, and walked out on negotiations.
SEIU Local 73 has repeatedly offered all dates, including nights and weekends, to continue bargaining throughout negotiations.
The union also claims Cook County has brought in strikebreakers from high-risk COVID-19 states endangering workers’ and patients’ lives.