Next General Membership Meeting
Saturday, September 8

10 AM- 12 Noon
Teamster CIty
300 S Ashland Ave


Join Us On October 27th
Massive Action to Stop the War

- Did you know that we've already spent more than $456 Billion* on the Iraq war so far?

- Did you know that the Iraq war has already cost each American household more than $4,100?

- Think of all the important priorities that we can't afford because of it -- decent health care, safe roads and bridges, better schools, safe neighborhoods, good public transportation, a secure Social Security, and much more.... 

Saturday October 27, 2007 - Chicago, IL
1:30 PM Rally at Union Park, Ashland & Randolph
Followed by a 3:00 PM March through the Loop to Federal Plaza

Help Bring Our Sons and Daughters Home from Iraq Now

To All SEIU Local 73 Members Affected by the State Budget
From Dale Hillier , Vice President

Re: Employee Paychecks

SEIU Local 73 has been closely watching the situation with the State Budget and has previously been told that all employees will be paid on time at their appropriate rate of pay for all work performed regardless of the status of the State Budget.

Now that the Comptroller’s Office is stating that without a State Budget, employee’s will soon begin to miss paydays, SEIU Local 73 is prepared to take legal action against the State.

This includes:

• Court action to ensure employees are paid on time.
• Legal review to file a class action complaint with the Department of Labor- Wage Claim Division.
• All other actions deemed advisable by the Union’s legal council.

While this is a very stressful and trying time for everyone, the Union advises that employee’s continue to report for work as scheduled. It is SEIU Local 73s position that all employees must be paid for all work performed and we will take all the necessary steps to enforce this.

Contract Ratification Meetings for Members of the SEIU Local 73 Historical Unit (Aviation, Water Department & General Services)

The Bargaining Team is recommending a yes vote on a new 10-year contract with the City. We have negotiated this agreement in a condition of all thirty unions representing City employees. Members will recieve a contract summary at the ratification voting. Union representatives and stewards will be on  hand to talk to members and answer any questions.

Tuesday October 2, 2007
Humbolt Park, 1605 North Troy, 60647
9 AM to 5 PM

Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Sherman Park, 5440 South Racine, 60609
9 AM to 5 PM

Thursday, October 4, 2007
O'Hare Airport, Terminal 2
5 AM to 8 AM and from 1 PM to 4 PM

For more information contact SEIU Local 73 at (312) 787-5868

LOCAL 73/119
UPDATE ON OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH UIUC

Members vote to authorize our bargaining team to call a strike if mediation fails.

Frustrated with the pace of their contract negotiation with the University of Illinois, SEIU Local 73/119 recently took an action that could lead its members out on strike later this year. Members in both bargaining units negotiating now – Building Service and Food Service -- voted 91% YES to authorize a strike if the bargaining reaches an impasse. Union members have been working without a contract since the end of July 2006, when the last contract expired.

The Union feels that the University is not making a good faith effort at the bargaining table to move ahead and resolve the major issues. The last several bargaining sessions have been frustrating and going nowhere.

Read More

We Won! School District Accountability Act (HB1347) Passed

On May 22, 2007, our school district anti-privatization ordinance, HB1347, passed both the Illinois House and Senate, and awaits the Governor’s signature! SEIU Local 73, along with our labor allies, lobbied hard for this big victory, which ensures that non-instructional public employees who work in schools have increased job protection, and that schools get high quality services at a reasonable cost to taxpayers.

This victory would not have been possible without the hard work of Local 73 leaders and staff, who collected and faxed almost 1000 signed support letters to their legislators in just a few days! Senator after Senator had stacks of letters on their desk when we visited them in Springfield, and each referred to them when they committed their support to us. This victory against privatization couldn’t have been possible without you!

HB 1347 in a nut-shell: 

• School districts must give a 90-day notice of any decision to subcontract work (instead of 30), and CANNOT be done during the life of a union contract
• School district must provide cost comparisons
• Subcontractors must provide comparable benefits package
• Review and consideration of bids must take place in open sessions, and one public hearing must also held
• Subcontractors must offer available positions to district employees who are terminated due to the contract.

SEIU is committed to winning anti-privatization legislation at every level of government. HB 1347 applies to school districts outside Chicago, and rest assured, Local 73 continues to fight for ALL our public employees at the City, County, and State levels! Call Vice-President Cynthia Rodriguez at 312.981.2403 to get involved!

HB 1347 Roll Call – IF YOUR REP DIDN'T VOTE YES, THEY DIDN’T STAND WITH US – THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU! 

House Roll Call (PDF)
Senate Roll Call (PDF)

IN NOVEMBER, WE WILL REMEMBER!!!

For more information please contact Cythina Rodriguez at SEIU Local 73 (312) 981-2403