Parking Strike: Teamsters Local 727 halts operations at three Chicago garages
Nearly 1,200 attendants began picketing Tuesday after rejecting a contract offer that included a 27 percent wage increase over five years.
By Luca Harrison ·
Drivers and commuters in Chicago encountered closed parking garages on Tuesday morning when members of Teamsters Local 727 began a strike at three city locations. The union represents approximately 1,200 workers who staff parking facilities across the city. Operations at major hubs such as O’Hare International Airport and McCormick Place remained unchanged, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation and a spokesperson for the convention center. Hyatt Regency representatives had not issued a comment as of the morning report.
The labor action follows the expiration of the union’s contract last week. In a recent vote, 98 percent of members authorized a strike after rejecting the employer’s final proposal. The union criticized the Chicago Parking Association for refusing to bargain and making unilateral changes to working conditions. A union spokesperson described the rejected offer as a disrespectful last, best, and final deal that included retaliation and unlawful surveillance.
The employer pushed back against the characterization of the offer. A Chicago Parking Association spokesperson labeled the proposal unprecedented and one of the most generous compensation packages in the industry. The five-year agreement included an overall 27 percent increase in wages and benefits, with a 7 percent wage increase in the first year. Negotiations have stalled, and the union indicated the picket line could expand to other sites, including Navy Pier.
This strike occurs against the backdrop of a major election night in Illinois. Democrats secured supermajorities in the state General Assembly, while Republicans in the state delegation face difficult decisions regarding legislative checks on the federal government. In Chicago, the Chicago Board of Elections reported 362,460 in-person ballots cast. Turnout was expected to exceed the 2022 midterm numbers. Voters cited inflation and the cost of living as primary motivators.
Local school board races also produced notable results. Candidates backed by the Chicago Teachers Union won seven of 21 seats. Despite being outspent by the political group Common Ground Collective, which raised $6.8 million in two months, the union-backed candidates are likely to form a formidable opposition. Jessica Biggs, who received $1 million from billionaire Michael Sacks, won the board president race but lacks the two-thirds majority required to overturn resolutions at next month’s meeting.
The next scheduled event for the school board is a meeting next month where sitting members will cast their final votes. For the parking attendants, the union plans to continue picketing at the three current locations while monitoring the possibility of expanding the action to additional garages.
