CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Employees of the Chicago Board of Elections (CBOE) say the agency is fighting their efforts to unionize. They made their plea at the board's most recent meeting.
Nicole Deming, an organizer with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73, said none of the more than 80 election board employees who want to unionize could get the time off to speak at the meeting. She read a letter from them, though, which said the board is thwarting their efforts.
“Sadly, the board has responded by filing frivolous objections, withholding crucial overtime pay and creating an atmosphere of fear and retaliation," Deming read aloud. "We seek a better and more sustainable workplace, not just for ourselves but future CBOE workers.”
Deming said the workers are overworked, underpaid, and she accused the Chicago Board of Elections of not following city ordinances on overtime.
No board member responded to the remarks. WBBM Newsradio has requested comment from the outside attorneys who are handling the matter.
Later, Deming told reporters that the CBOE is resisting unionization for invalid reasons.
“The board of elections has a prohibition on political activity for their employees, and they are considering the union an inherently political organization, which we of course disagree with,” Deming said. “Each member’s choice to partake in political activity is just that.”
She said while the union itself endorses political candidates, no dues are used for political activity and there is a separate political fund — to which election workers would not contribute.
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