Cook County employees picket for a fair contract

Cook County employees have taken their fight for a new contract public to highlight the unfair demands being made by County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s administration.

Hundreds of county employees – represented by 15 AFSCME locals – participated in informational pickets on June 10, showing that they’re ready to fight for an agreement that respects the vital work they do and aren’t going to accept a pay cut.

“We work hard and provide great services to the public,” Local 1111 President Carmin Willis-Goodloe said. “We deserve a fair contract, with fair wages and fair health care costs.”

County negotiators have demanded employees accept an agreement in which a modest wage increase would be more than wiped out by an increase in health insurance costs – ultimately resulting in take-home pay being reduced over the life of the contract. The county’s proposal doesn’t include any retroactive pay increase to cover the 18 months employees have gone without any pay increase.

County employees also face a threat to their pension benefits – and possibly higher contributions out of each pay check. Preckwinkle spent much of the General Assembly’s spring session lobbying hard for unfair, unconstitutional pension cuts. While lawmakers declined to take up a bill before leaving town, the proposal will likely come up again later this year.