(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- More than three dozen workers who were laid off a week ago from one of Chicago's premier athletic clubs are fighting to get their jobs back.
At Midtown Athletic Club on North Elston, housekeeping employees like Lisseth Cervantes say they worked under less-than-ideal conditions.
Like having to dispose of trash containing used needles, without proper protective equipment.
"There was a lot of towels with blood, all the time, constantly. We would get told, ‘Just throw them into the garbage.’”
Cervantes and other housekeeping staff were moving toward forming a union when she says they were suddenly laid off in retaliation.
"It's draining. It's frustrating. It's unfair. It's very, very unfair."
Midtown is reportedly now using an outside contractor for housekeeping.
Jon Brady, president of Midtown Clubs, Hotels and Resorts, on Thursday said there was no retaliation.
"We have partnered with a professional service provider who specializes in housekeeping. Our former employees all have the opportunity to apply to work with the new provider here at our club."
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