Employees of the Bolingbrook Park District Building and Grounds Division joined SEIU Local 73 18 months ago, but have yet to see their first contract. Residents showed up at a recent park district meeting to show support and ask why there is no contract. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer
By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016
Email Jennifer Rice at: jen@foxvalley
labornews.com
BOLINGBROOK — The public may not have gotten the answers they were looking for during a recent Bolingbrook Park District board meeting, but they walked away knowing they’re not giving up.
More than 35 park district employees and residents attended the Feb. 18 meeting to show their support of about 52 SEIU Local 73 members who joined the union 18 months ago, but have no contract in place. Members are from the building and grounds division.
“I’m here to understand what’s going on,” said Bolingbrook resident Norman Brown as he addressed board members.
Hammering out initial contracts are no walk in the park, but SEIU Local 73 Field Organizer Rick Loza said the park district is not giving the workers a fair contract.
Bolingbrook resident Norman Brown, standing, addresses members of the Bolingbrook Park District Board stressing his support for members of SEIU Local 73 who have been negotiating 18 months for their first contract. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer
“We want to resolve this issue. We have 99 percent of the contract done, with the exception of wages,” Loza explained.
Both sides have recently met, and will meet again Feb. 25. A federal mediator is involved. At the heart of the issue is the matter of being treated fairly. Part-time employees are upset at seeing full-time positions open up, only to have them filled by outsiders.
They would like to see an adequate pay increase for the work they perform, but instead, are informed of insulting pay raises.
Residents who addressed the board were passionate in their support for the SEIU Local 73 members.
“I would say please give these professional employees a top notch contract to mirror the top-notch organization, board and director that you have,” Bolingbrook resident Kevin Brown said to applause.
Many residents acknowledged the many accolades and awards the park district has received over the years — done through the hard work and dedication of its building and grounds division.
Loza stressed the board has never said anything negative about the quality of the member’s work, yet, “we feel the employer is dragging this along. We’re talking about getting a fair compensation for the value of their work. They are not being respected for that, and I think that is where our members are angry.”
Board President Denise Allen told residents they are following the bargaining process. “We have come to significant progress in many areas on both sides, but there are some tougher issues, and we are still far apart,” Allen explained.
Loza added members are not asking for unreasonable increases in salary. “What we’re talking about is the respect and dignity they deserve as workers.”