Chicago Board of Elections Workers to Speak Out Against Efforts to Block Unionization

Chicago Board of Elections Workers filed cards with the Illinois State Labor Board in July asserting their intention to join SEIU Local 73. Since then, attorneys for the City of Chicago have attempted to block the workers in their legal right to unionize.

Unfortunately, the workers were unable to secure time off to speak before the Board, so Local 73 representative Nicole Deming delivered their testimony at the Chicago Board of Elections Board meeting to call on the board and the city to stop blocking their right to form a union.

“We, the dedicated workers of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, are committed to ensuring a fair and equitable election process in our city. However, we have been facing significant challenges. Our wages have remained stagnant, failing to keep up with Chicago’s soaring cost of living. We are overworked and underpaid, yet we continue to persevere because we believe in the importance of our work. That’s why we have chosen to take action and join SEIU 73. Sadly, the Board has responded by filing frivolous objections, withholding crucial overtime pay, and creating an atmosphere of fear and retaliation. We seek a better and more sustainable workplace, not just for ourselves but for future CBOE workers. It’s time for the board to acknowledge our union fairly. We have had enough of these games. We insist that the commissioners begin negotiations with us.”

“These people work hard to ensure the freedom to vote for the people of Chicago. It is time for the Chicago Board of Elections to uphold these workers’ freedom to form a union,” said Dian Palmer, President of SEIU Local 73.

SEIU Local 73 currently represents 63 workers at Cook County Board of Elections.

Multiple news outlets covered the meeting including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and WBBM-AM.