Cook County Recorder of Deeds Workers Deliver Petition to County Clerk Karen Yarbrough’s Office to Save Jobs

This morning, a group of Cook County Recorder Deeds workers gathered, keeping social distance and wearing masks, in front of the Cook County Office Building to demand respect for their work and years of service. About 80 Cook County Recorder of Deeds workers, represented by SEIU Local 73, will lose their jobs due to the Cook County Clerk’s Office not offering these workers their jobs after the merger between the Cook County Clerk’s Office and the Cook County Recorder of Deeds. The Clerk’s plan for the consolidation is to take effect in December of 2020.

“The Cook County Clerk’s Office and the Cook County Recorder of Deeds were not transparent in their process. It’s not right and shows a lack of respect for the years of public service these workers have given to Cook County,” said Dian Palmer, SEIU Local 73 president. “We are here to deliver a petition to Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough’s Office demanding she do the right thing by assuring that workers are ensured the positions added to the Cook County Clerk’s Office, thereby respecting the workers years of service.”

Workers and SEIU Local 73 were not involved in the planning process of the merger and found out about the loss of jobs at the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee of the Cook County Board meeting in July. Many positions will be added to the Cook County Clerk’s Office, but current workers employed by the Cook County Recorder of Deeds are not guaranteed their jobs once the merger takes place.

“We are tired of the lack of empathy. Workers should not be the scapegoat for management’s misdirection. It’s time they start thinking about us as people, not as lines on an Excel sheet,” said Patricia Welch, Cook County Recorder of Deeds worker.

“We are demanding that employees with all the years of experience and knowledge serving Cook County continue to serve and keep their employment. We should not fill out applications as new hires. We must come together for a resolution because all workers lives matter,” said Tondalaya Thomas, Cook County Recorder of Deeds worker.

After rallying in front of the Cook County Office Building, Dian Palmer (SEIU Local 73 president) and a group of workers entered the building to County Clerk Karen Yarbrough’s Office and delivered the petition demanding she do the right thing by assuring that employees are ensured the positions added to the Cook County Clerk’s Office, thereby respecting the workers years of service.