Chicago parking attendants reach deal with operators to end strike

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times file SHARE COPY LINK Share CLOSE Twitter Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit Flipboard Chicago area parking attendants have reached an agreement with the Chicago Parking Association after launching what was characterized as an unfair labor practice strike, the Teamsters Local 727 union announced Friday. The strike began four days ago after the union’s nearly 1,200 members voted down the Chicago Parking Association’s “last, best, and final” offer, deeming it “disrespectful,” the union said in a statement. “We said it over and over again at the table — unprecedented times call for unprecedented increases. These members aren’t trying to be millionaires, they just want to be middle class,” said John Coli, Jr., Teamsters Local 727 Secretary-Treasurer in a statement. “If we can’t rely on management to do the right thing, we have to fight for language that protects hardworking teamsters against automation and layoffs.” The union was bargaining with the company over its contract that expired last week, when 98% of voting members authorized a strike, alleging the parking association was negotiating in bad faith. On Tuesday, members began picketing at O’Hare Airport , McCormick Place and the Hyatt Regency. By Friday afternoon, more than 30 separate unfair labor practice charges were pending. A Sunday night Chicago Bears game at Solider Field was fast approaching and possibly no workers to staff parking lots. That was when the agreement was reached, Coli, Jr. said was a “major victory.” “The terms of this new agreement protects bargaining unit work against emerging technologies, increases PTO, provides a new retiree benefit and will provide the largest benefit and wage increases ever achieved by the Union in the parking industry,” he said in the statement. On Tuesday, parking operations continued normally at O’Hare and at McCormick Place despite the picket, both sites confirmed. Representatives for Hyatt Regency did not respond to a request for comment. Parking operations are expected to resume immediately, a Chicago Parking Association spokesperson said in a statement on Friday. “The Chicago Parking Association is pleased to have reached a settlement with Teamsters Local 727,” the spokesperson said. “We look forward to continuing to serve our customers throughout Chicagoland... We appreciate our customers’ patience throughout this process and are excited to move forward together.” SHARE COPY LINK Share CLOSE Twitter Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit Flipboard Mariah Rush Chicago Sun-Times Money reporter Next Up In News Chicago-area skydiver dies after mid-air collision in Southern California After Democrats won big during midterm election, Chicago supporters rally for 'productive change' Chicago families kick off holiday season with MSI tree lighting festival What's your message to Democrats as they prepare to take control of Congress? Here's what you told us How Chicago businesses are bracing for the state's hemp ban Broadview 6 hearing set to rock Chicago federal courthouse, but DOJ official could intervene