Chicago Park District Workers Speak Out for Health Care at Board Meeting

Chicago Park District workers Jailene Leyva, a park attendant, and Carling Andrews, a monthly activities instructor, attended Wednesday’s Chicago Park District board meeting to advocate for health care coverage.

They were advocating for a majority of workers at CPD who do not have health care- 60%, to be exact. In November, CPD workers presented a petition with over 1,500 signatures to the CPD demanding health care for hourly workers.

Andrews spoke to the “heartbreaking” experiences of hearing about her coworkers taking on medical debt and even being forced to take on no coverage at all.

“This is not being a leading and equitable employer for the city,” Andrews said.

Levya, a park attendant at CPD, said she works part-time with a range between 20 hours to 35 hours and doesn’t receive health care. She’s had to go through the marketplace to buy coverage.

Last year, she said she paid around $260 a month, plus $80 for therapy she needs. Now, Levya said she is spending $400 a month.

In a message to her fellow workers, she encouraged them to speak out, saying “we’re in the majority of wanting health care,” and adding “that puts pressure on management to be in our favor.”

To the superintendent and board of directors, Levya said, “We can afford it, we deserve health care, and you would look good giving us health care, so do it. We deserve it, we work really hard.”

Levya ended on a hopeful note.

“Doing this reminds of me how change happens. It’s not going to come from management, it’s not going to come from any kind of leadership position,” she said. “It’s going to come from each other; our coworkers have a need, and we voice it, and then we fight for ourselves, and that’s what the union represents.”