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WIN! Cook County Physician Assistants Agreement Ratified

Physician Assistants pressure forced President Preckwinkle to ratify agreement. A year ago, Cook County management approached me, Dian Palmer, about setting wages for Physicians Assistants to market rate in order to compete to hire and retain staff. Members worked with management and reached an agreement which President Preckwinkle twice attempted to reject.

On Thursday, May 17, Cook County physician assistants went to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s office in downtown Chicago to put pressure on Cook County Board of Commissioners to pass a physician assistant agreement. The agreement was first initiated by Cook County and would secure better working conditions for physician assistants including pay increases and improved hiring practices. The power to push forward the agreement is currently in the hands of President Preckwinkle. She has the power to tell the commissioners to take the agreement out of committee and put it up for a vote.

On May 17, Physicians Assistants and members of the Cook County bargaining team joined Dian Palmer and John Tillar to march on President Preckwinkle’s office. Physician assistants demanded that President Preckwinkle keep her word. A deal is a deal!

This week, Preckwinkle acted. After 6 weeks of waiting in Labor Committee, President Preckwinkle brought the agreement forward to be ratified by the Cook County Board of Commissioners. 

Dian Palmer marches on the boss with Cook County Physician Assistants.

Dian Palmer marches on the boss with Cook County Physician Assistants.

This agreement would have sat in the Committee for months awaiting President Preckwinkle to finally keep her word. It was action taken by SEIU Local 73 members which forced the President to ask commissioners to ratify the agreement.

When we stand up to management together, we can gain victories in our workplaces.

I am proud of the Physician Assistants and Bargaining Committee members who joined us. Their efforts made a difference in their lives. I look forward to working with each of you as you push management to raise wages, improve benefits, and fight for dignity and respect in the workplace.

When We Fight, We Win!