Air Port Jobs on the Line... Some but not all local Alderman concerned.

Press Release for Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Contact: Carly Karmel, 312-933-4045, ckarmel@unitehere1.org

Members of Aviation Committee lead forum and City Hall action to press city leaders to lock in job protections for all Chicago airport workers

(CHICAGO) – Today, members of the Chicago Aviation Committee are convening a community forum with religious leaders and hundreds of airport workers to press the City to adopt measures to protect hundreds of jobs in Chicago’s airports. In the next six months, more than 1,500 airport workers in Chicago could be thrown out of work or see their wages cut as the City undertakes a massive redevelopment of O’Hare and Midway Airports. Following the forum, workers and city leaders are marching to City Hall for an action to press leaders to protect airport jobs.

Community leaders from across the city and of many faiths are participating in today’s event, including Bishop Alberto Rojas (Archdiocese of Chicago), Alderman Jason Ervin (28^th Ward, the sponsor of the“Stable Jobs, Stable Airports” ordinance), Aviation Committee members John Arena (45^th Ward), Tim Cullerton (38^th Ward), Pat Dowell (3^rd Ward), Willie Cochran (20^th Ward), JoAnn Thompson (16^th Ward), and Danny Solis (25^th Ward). The forum is being led by William McNary, Citizen Action Illinois co-Director, and supporters are discussing the future of stable jobs for Chicago airport workers.

“I support the ordinance for stable jobs out at the airport because employees of the airport work hard, travel a long way, and they have families to feed,” said Alderman Willie Cochran (20^th Ward). “We all need stability in our lives. It means strong families, and it means strong outcomes.”

Today’s event is part of broader multi-year effort to secure a living wage and job protections for workers in Chicago’s airports. More than a year ago, city leaders introduced the “Stable Jobs, Stable Communities” ordinance which would ensure a smooth transition and a living wage for airport workers. Such measures have been adopted in other major cities nationwide, but Chicago, thus far, has failed to implement such measures.

“I am a single mom with three boys: an eight year-old who has Downs syndrome, a five year-old, and three year-old who is a sickle cell carrier,” said O’Hare worker Tameka Shivers. “My job allows me to be independent and to take care of my boys, which is why I hope city leaders will put in place the protections we need to make sure my job is here to stay.”

Chicago’s hospitality workers live in every corner of the city – supporting local business, religious institutions, and communities. The job crisis in Chicago affects workers deeply, especially as Chicago communities confront challenges such as safety, foreclosures, and education.

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UNITE HERE Local 1 represents approximately 15,000 hospitality workers and casino workers in the Chicago area and Northwest Indiana.

41st Ward City Budget Town Hall Meeting - When?

Why are some alderman hosting their own Town Hall meetings to discuss the city budget and the 41st Ward is not?

The mayor is hosting two closed door meetings and just one closely controlled all city budget hearing.

Some alderman are upset there will be so little input from constituents.    (Ald. Pawar from the 46th is holding his own town hall meeting, and the six progressive aldermen on the city council are hosting three question & answer sessions around the city).  The Northside meeting will be held at the Copernicus Center.  

Since we aren't having a city budget town hall meeting here...I am left to assume our alderman doesn't care what we think.

Council ‘Progressive Caucus’ To Host 3 Public Hearings On Budget

October 12, 2012 1:09 PM    

Chicago City Council Chambers (CBS)

CHICAGO (CBS) – Members of the Chicago City Council’s self-described “progressive caucus” said the mayor’s office isn’t giving residents enough of a chance to discuss the city budget, so they’ll hold more budget hearings of their own.

WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports a coalition of aldermen said Friday that the mayor’s two limited roundtables to discuss specific budget issues – business and education – and one day of public comment at City Hall just aren’t enough for taxpayers to have their say on the proposed $8 billion budget.

Ald. John Arena (45th) criticized the decision not to have the two roundtable discussions open to the public.

“They’re closed-door. I don’t know who was represented in those meetings. I know that – talking to the community leaders in the 45th Ward – I don’t have one instance of a representation from the Northwest Side being in those meetings,” Arena said.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s                          John Cody Reports                                                                            

Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th) said there needs to be more than the one scheduled budget hearing open to public comment, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 2.

“All I know is that not giving the public an opportunity is not being transparent. It’s not being open,” Sawyer said.

He acknowledged there are typically only a few diamonds in the rough amid the suggestions from the public at such budget hearings, but he said taxpayers deserve more input on a budget plan they’ll have to pay for.

“A constituent’s idea may not be the best idea, that’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s no bad idea. The worst thing about it is having no input,” he said.

Arena and Sawyer joined Alds. Robert Fioretti (2nd), Ricardo Munoz (22nd), Scott Waguespack (32nd), and Nicholas Sposato (36th) in scheduling three public comment sessions on the budget. They will be held Monday at 6 p.m. at South Shore International College Prep High School on the South Side, Wells High School on the West Side, and the Copernicus Center on the Northwest Side.

Asked why the city is having only one public comment session on the budget, when former Mayor Richard M. Daley used to sit through at least three – two in the neighborhoods, and one at City Hall – Sawyer said he had no idea