Cook County Workers’ Support Helps Pass Resolution Reducing Staffing Agency Contracts

In front of the Cook County Health and Hospitals Committee, County workers and SEIU Local 73 staff spoke in favor of a resolution to reduce the Cook County Health System’s reliance on temporary staffing agencies while prioritizing permanent employees.

Resolution 24-5841, championed by Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen, Commissioner Alma Anaya, and Commissioner Anthony Quezada, passed unanimously.

“Cook County Health workers have had to fight for a decent wage, and to work alongside an agency worker making double or triple their hourly rate is disheartening, unfair, and downright wrong. Imagine if County workers were getting paid the same wage as agency workers. It would change our lives and our family’s lives and raise the morale of the employees in the hospital,” said Ericka White, Administrative Assistant at Cook County, SEIU Local 73 Union Steward, Bargaining Committee, and CAT Member.

“Relying on staffing agencies puts a strain on Cook County taxpayers. Resolution 24-5841 will begin to reverse this trend, ensuring that good union jobs are protected and prioritized. This resolution is vital for our patients, workers, and community,” said Roy Chavadiyil, Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Tech at Stroger Hospital and SEIU Local 73 Area Vice President.

“As full-time union workers, we are united and dedicated to providing the best possible care at Stroger Hospital. Resolution 24-5841 will help Cook County Health create more opportunities for full-time union workers and turn CCH into an employer and provider of choice,” said Juanita Ervin, Health Advocate – Inpatient at Stroger Hospital.

“The public sector will undoubtedly be under attack over the next four years. Resolution 24-5841 signals to the looming threats of privatization that Cook County will protect and defend public goods, services, and union jobs. We look forward to continued collaboration and a productive relationship to make Cook County Health an employer and provider of choice,” said Lizzy Bortoto, SEIU Local 73’s Director of the Cook County Division.

Since 2018, CCH has awarded 500 million dollars in private, out-of-state agency staffing contracts to companies with records of wage theft, sexual harassment, and other workers’ rights abuses. According to Local 73’s research, agency workers represented nearly 48% of the total work provided by our members.

The resolution would ensure that Cook County Health’s agency-hired personnel should not exceed 20% of the budgeted Full Time Equivalents (FTE) personnel for each job classification approved in the annual budget by the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Once CCH meets the 20% goal, it will no longer provide the bi-annual reports or annual hearings detailed below; and Cook County Health shall provide bi-annual reports to the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Directors of the Cook County Health & Hospital System and work with the Health and Hospitals Committee Chair to schedule an annual hearing to provide an update to the Board of Commissioners and the public on the system reduction in agency hiring, and its progress in hiring permanent employees. Bi-annual reports should include total budgeted FTE’s, total vacancies, total agency level staffing for each position. CCH should report specific efforts to reduce reliance on agency staffing in the Cook County Health System. If CCH agency staffing exceeds the 20% goal, the bi-annual reports and annual hearings shall recommence.

Watch the full public comment period below.