News

Cook County Workers Secure Two-Year Contract Extension

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Cook County members have overwhelmingly approved a two-year contract extension including:

  • $2500 signing bonus for all active members, effective December 1, 2025
  • 2% COLA, effective the first full pay period on or after December 1, 2025
  • 2% COLA, effective the first full pay period on or after June 1,2026
  • 4% COLA, effective the first full pay period on or after December 1, 2026
  • Me-too agreement on the extension
  • In recognition of this being the second extension of the original collective bargaining agreement, and further recognition that issues often arise during the term of a collective bargaining agreement that need to be addressed, the parties hereby commit to working to address such issues during the term of this extension.

“The cuts to Medicaid and other services our members provide are under attack by the Trump regime,” said SEIU Local 73 President Dian Palmer. “Cook County Health is a safety net provider and the Medicaid cuts MAGA republicans voted for will directly impact our members’ work. Partnering with Cook County to secure this contract extension ensures our members will continue to be paid fairly for their work as we fight back against giving billionaires tax breaks while the people our members serve are left with scraps.”

The contract includes a “me-too” agreement ensuring that if another Cook County union negotiates higher wage increases, our members will receive the same increase.

“By extending this contract, we protect our hard-won gains, maintain stability for our members, and create the opportunity to build an even stronger agreement for the future,” said Ericka White, Executive Board and Bargaining Team Member.

“I’ve been a union steward for over 30 years,” said Adrian Hinton, Bargaining Team Member. “This was the best possible agreement for such a time as this.”

“With these unprecedented times, it was good to see us working together to protect the public sector and maintain quality services for Cook County residents,” said Thiesha Tiggs, Steward and Bargaining Team Member.