City threatening to layoff 293 public-safety employees

(SEIU Local 73)

     Almost 300 civilian public-safety employees in the city of Chicago are facing threatened layoffs. The officers, all members of the Service Employees International Union Local 73, would be replaced by more highly-paid city police officers.
    
     The threatened layoffs would impact 186 Crossing Guards, 67 Detention Aides and 40 Traffic Control Aides and their families.  The city Department of Human Resources tells SEIU Local 73 that the layoff notices will be mailed out Friday and the layoffs will go into effect on July 1st.

     While SEIU Local 73 recognizes the current economic challenges the city and its residents are facing, the union contends that the threatened layoffs make no financial sense and will NOT save the city any money.

     “The police officers make a lot more per hour than the regular Crossing Guards, Detention Aides and Traffic Control Aides.” SEIU Local 73 Secretary-Treasurer Matt Brandon said. “Anytime you’re doing something like that, how do you justify it financially?”

      “On top of that, the real tradeoff is public safety,” Brandon ads. “These layoffs would take police off the street at a time when the city’s murder rate is already way too high.”

     The union is consulting with its attorneys regarding its legal options.

    “Based on current media coverage, it would not surprise us if the city came to us and proposed concessions in return for saving these jobs,” Brandon said.

     For more information, contact Jonathan Labe, Communications Director, SEIU Local 73 at 312-588-7534 or 773-612-6906 or jlabe@seiu73.org or jonathan_labe@sbcglobal.net