Tollway Workers Updates
April 26, 2024
We met with the Tollway on Thursday, April 25.
Our first counter for the Toll Collectors was an offer to keep all current employees targeted for layoff until June 30, 2027, with no increase in pay over those three years, all of the tentative agreements currently reached, and withdraw all other proposals. We would continue to negotiate for the CCW employees. They rejected that proposal.
We then offered a counterproposal for the severance package that pushed the date back to September 30, 2024, with two weeks of severance for each year of service, two months of health insurance coverage, vacation payout, half pay for all sick time, and bidding preference for 24 months. We also proposed offering this severance package to CCWs who want to separate early. They stated they needed time to cost out this offer, but did not agree to it.
We received the final part of the CCW wages counteroffer from the Tollway. They proposed 2.5% each year for the four years and rejected most of the stipend increases.
We will counter them at the next Bargaining session on May 10 at 10 AM. The next Tollway Board meeting is on May 16 at 9:00 AM.
April 18, 2024
Illinois Tollway Workers Fight Proposed Layoffs
April 10, 2024
During today’s bargaining session, SEIU Local 73 presented a counterproposal to Tollway leadership to extend the layoff date, expand their proposed severance pay, and compensate for the earned vacation and sick time, health insurance, and recall rights.
Tollway leadership didn’t immediately respond; instead, they informed us they were costing the proposal. Our next two bargaining sessions will be April 17 at 1 PM and April 25 at 1 PM.
We’re fighting to save our jobs and continue serving the public. Workers will testify during the Tollway Board Meeting on Thursday, April 18, at 9 AM. If you’re available to speak, a representative from the union will reach out and help you prepare.
We’re also trying to gauge workers’ availability to hold a rally in front of CA after the meeting.
Are you willing to attend? Please click here to RSVP by EOD Monday. We need a headcount of how many workers can speak during the Board Meeting and rally afterward. Workers will need to use benefit time to participate.
March 28, 2024
The Illinois Tollway Board has announced layoffs for all workers in the titles of Senior Toll Collector, Toll Collector, Money Room Counter, Money Room Clerk, Money Room Truck Driver, and Money Room Counter/Money Room Truck Driver. They have proposed May 17 as the effective layoff date. SEIU Local 73 and the Tollway Board must negotiate all provisions. The Board has made an initial proposal that includes a severance package, continued health care, career counseling, transfers, and retraining provisions. Your union is determined to fight these layoffs and keep valuable employees in their current roles. We will also propose offering the incentive as a retirement package to Clerks, Custodians, and Warehouse workers.
Tollway workers must stand united and take collective action to avert these layoffs:
- To ensure we have as much leverage as possible, we ask workers to continue performing job duties as required. We are stronger together and must continue providing vital services to Illinois residents.
- Additionally, to aid in our goals, we are asking all Tollway Workers to submit a written statement about how these potential layoffs will affect them and their families. Your union will present these statements collectively to the Tollway Executive Director, Board Members, and Governor Pritzker during our next bargaining session on April 2 at 1:30 PM. Click here to submit your testimony before April 1 at Noon. More information about bargaining will be provided at a future date.
We will also hold an important member meeting on Zoom on Monday, April 1, at 5 PM. Click here to join the call.
If you have questions, contact Local 73 Secretary-Treasurer Joe Richert at (773) 805-0399 or any Bargaining Committee member.
March 21, 2024
In response to the announcement that Illinois Tollway is planning to lay off all former Toll Collectors, Money Room Workers, and Drivers who worked from home and accepted calls, SEIU Local 73 issued a letter to Governor Pritzker calling on him to put a stop to these layoffs and any privatization of positions, and urge the Tollway to return to the bargaining table.
Additionally, we issued an information request Tollway General Counsel Kathleen Pasulka-Brown, in order to bargain the impact of any potential layoffs.
Management has yet to answer questions about the date, timeline, benefits, etc., because all of these issues must be negotiated with our Union. We will propose the date, timeline, benefits, and other related issues to management at the negotiations session scheduled for March 28 at 11 am.
We will update everyone after those negotiations.
We will continue to inform you of any other actions we will be taking to address the proposed lay-offs.