CCH Spends Millions on Agency Staff While Refusing to Increase Pay of Union Workers

SEIU Local 73 units throughout Cook County Health were part of an historic 18-day strike resulting in a number of wins, including pandemic pay, pay equity, and recognition of seniority in hiring and promotions. While we continue to wait for wage increases to be ruled on in arbitration, CCH leaders have used the delay as an excuse for their inability to hire more workers to alleviate short staffing.

Employee salaries at CCH across the board are too low to compete with other area hospitals. To offset this, CCH is spending more than $60 million on the three largest temporary staffing agencies. This is a 1,800% increase in temporary staffing contracts from 2018 to 2022. These non-bargaining unit hires are often being paid more than represented employees to do the same work.

“That is a slap in the face to every worker who has put their lives at risk to keep providing vital services to the people of Cook County, said SEIU Local 73 President Dian Palmer at the March 17 Board of Commissioners Meeting. “These agency workers are coming from across the country, which fails to put economic revenue back into our communities.”

Departments like ward clerk, respiratory therapy, lab, environmental services, health advocates have all seen increased agency staff.

“Do not be fooled by the claim that these agency workers are needed to provide quality services. The reality is this is another effort to weaken our union,” said Palmer.   

We believe the County is being penny wise and pound foolish. Implementing our contracts and the agreed upon raises prior to arbitration would have cost millions less, lifted morale, and helped these essential employees financially.

“This is just another example of teaching our union a lesson,” Palmer concluded.

There is currently no set date for the arbiter’s decision, but President Palmer and other leaders of SEIU Local 73 will continue to pressure Cook County leaders to do the job they were elected to do, which is to stand up for everyday workers who have seen the impact of the pandemic in their day-to-day lives and in their communities.