Today, members of the Chicago Aviation Committee are convening a community forum with religious leaders and hundreds of airport workers to press the City to adopt measures to protect hundreds of jobs in Chicago’s airports. In the next six months, more than 1,500 airport workers in Chicago could be thrown out of work or see their wages cut as the City undertakes a massive redevelopment of O’Hare and Midway Airports. Following the forum, workers and city leaders are marching to City Hall for an action to press leaders to protect airport jobs.
Community leaders from across the city and of many faiths are participating in today’s event, including Bishop Alberto Rojas (Archdiocese of Chicago), Alderman Jason Ervin (28th Ward, the sponsor of the “Stable Jobs, Stable Airports” ordinance), Aviation Committee members John Arena (45th Ward), Tim Cullerton (38th Ward), Pat Dowell (3rd Ward), Willie Cochran (20th Ward), JoAnn Thompson (16th Ward), and Danny Solis (25th Ward). The forum is being led by William McNary, Citizen Action Illinois co-Director, and supporters are discussing the future of stable jobs for Chicago airport workers.
“I support the ordinance for stable jobs out at the airport because employees of the airport work hard, travel a long way, and they have families to feed,” said Alderman Willie Cochran (20th Ward). “We all need stability in our lives. It means strong families, and it means strong outcomes.”
Today’s event is part of broader multi-year effort to secure a living wage and job protections for workers in Chicago’s airports. More than a year ago, city leaders introduced the “Stable Jobs, Stable Communities” ordinance which would ensure a smooth transition and a living wage for airport workers. Such measures have been adopted in other major cities nationwide, but Chicago, thus far, has failed to implement such measures.
“I am a single mom with three boys: an eight year-old who has Downs syndrome, a five year-old, and three year-old who is a sickle cell carrier,” said O’Hare worker Tameka Shivers. “My job allows me to be independent and to take care of my boys, which is why I hope city leaders will put in place the protections we need to make sure my job is here to stay.”
Chicago’s hospitality workers live in every corner of the city – supporting local business, religious institutions, and communities. The job crisis in Chicago affects workers deeply, especially as Chicago communities confront challenges such as safety, foreclosures, and education.
Amtrak workers join Inn of Chicago housekeepers in struggle for a fair contract
Amtrak crews regularly stay at the Inn of Chicago, as Chicago serves as a major transportation hub within the Midwest and between the coasts.
“We are directly involved in this fight because Amtrak workers stay at the Inn of Chicago. After hearing about the struggle hotel workers are facing there, we moved Amtrak employees from the Inn of Chicago to other hotels in the city.
Our fight is your fight. We need to join together on more fronts like this because if we stay together we will win. “
–Donald Boyd, UNITE HERE Local 43 Secretary Treasure & Amtrak food service worker
New Contract Spells Good News for 1,200 Chicago Airport Workers—Unless City Moots It
On Oct. 19, after four months of bargaining, UNITE HERE Local 1 union ratified a contract ensuring better wages and health insurance for 1,200 store, café and restaurant workers at Chicago’s two airports, O’Hare and Midway. The new contract with company HMS Host will put a total of $10 million more in airport workers’ pockets, which means $10 million more circulating in the working-class Chicago neighborhoods where many of them live, says UNITE HERE Local 1 president Henry Tamarin.
Community Leader, Workers Lobby To Save Airport Jobs
City officials met with religious leaders and airport workers Wednesday to press for the measures to protect hundreds of jobs at Chicago’s airports.
The City Council is considering a new law that would ensure union jobs and benefits if the current airport concession contract goes to another company. The proposal, called Stable Jobs Stable Airports, would prevent labor disruptions as new companies take over.
Members of Aviation Committee lead forum and City Hall action to press city leaders to lock job protections for all Chicago airport workers
Community leaders from across the city and of many faiths are participating in today’s event, including Bishop Alberto Rojas (Archdiocese of Chicago), Alderman Jason Ervin (28th Ward, the sponsor of the “Stable Jobs, Stable Airports” ordinance), Aviation Committee members John Arena (45th Ward), Tim Cullerton (38th Ward), Pat Dowell (3rd Ward), Willie Cochran (20th Ward), JoAnn Thompson (16th Ward), and Danny Solis (25th Ward). The forum is being led by William McNary, Citizen Action Illinois co-Director, and supporters are discussing the future of stable jobs for Chicago airport workers.
“I support the ordinance for stable jobs out at the airport because employees of the airport work hard, travel a long way, and they have families to feed,” said Alderman Willie Cochran (20th Ward). “We all need stability in our lives. It means strong families, and it means strong outcomes.”
Today’s event is part of broader multi-year effort to secure a living wage and job protections for workers in Chicago’s airports. More than a year ago, city leaders introduced the “Stable Jobs, Stable Communities” ordinance which would ensure a smooth transition and a living wage for airport workers. Such measures have been adopted in other major cities nationwide, but Chicago, thus far, has failed to implement such measures.
“I am a single mom with three boys: an eight year-old who has Downs syndrome, a five year-old, and three year-old who is a sickle cell carrier,” said O’Hare worker Tameka Shivers. “My job allows me to be independent and to take care of my boys, which is why I hope city leaders will put in place the protections we need to make sure my job is here to stay.”
Chicago’s hospitality workers live in every corner of the city – supporting local business, religious institutions, and communities. The job crisis in Chicago affects workers deeply, especially as Chicago communities confront challenges such as safety, foreclosures, and education.
National Labor Relations Board: Notice to Members
Contracts settled for 1200 HMS Host concession workers at O’Hare
After four months of negotiations with HMS Host, workers settled new contracts that raise wages and give hundreds of workers without health insurance access to affordable healthcare. Highlights of the contract settlement include a wage scale that ensures every worker will be making a family supporting wage in the next five years. Additionally, the new contract has provisions that will significantly lower health care costs for all workers, which will enable workers to access health care coverage for as little as $4 a week. An overwhelming majority of workers voted to ratify the contract.
“Between the raises and the new affordable health care options, I can now get coverage that I couldn’t afford before,” said O’Hare worker Tameka Shivers. “I am a single mom with three boys: an eight year-old who has Downs syndrome, a five year-old, and three year-old who is a sickle cell carrier. This new contract allows me to be independent and know that I can take care of my boys.”
Airport workers greet thousands of guests who come to Chicago, but sadly for too long many workers have been living in poverty. This new contract will put millions of dollars into the pockets of working people and Chicago neighborhoods over the life of the contract.
“This is the best contract we have gotten from Host. It’s the biggest wage increase, and we now have affordable health insurance,” said O’Hare worker Boddrick Barnes. “Years ago, I was diagnosed with a heart condition, so having affordable health care is really important to me and my family.”
Slide Ohare