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Cook County United

We are Combining our Strength in Cook County

   Some 4,000 employees in all areas of Cook County are members of SEIU. For all, their current contracts expire at the end of this year. In the spirit of the Justice for All platform passed at our recent convention, President Andy Stern has requested that we unite all the members into one, unified bargaining effort to negotiate the best successor contract possible. He has appointed Local 73 President Christine Boardman as the Chief Negotiator.
   The newly elected officers of SEIU Health Care Illinois/Indiana together with the leadership of SEIU Local 73 and SEIU Local 10 MD are establishing Cook County United. Christine will be working closely with Byron Hobbs, EVP of SEIU Health Care Illinois/Indiana (HCII), Greg Kelley, VP, HCII, the leadership of SEIU Local 10 MD, and Betty Boles, VP, SEIU 73in developing and coordinating the strategies to be applied for a successful County contract campaign. When we speak with one voice, our efforts to maintain and improve quality County services will be more effective. Elected officers and work site leaders from all the Cook County units will meet on July 17 to get the process underway.
   The goal is to start bargaining early in order to get the contract done by November 30, 2008. The hope is to cut down on the time it takes to bargain a contract --the last round went more than a year. Members' wage increases and other improvements will be put in members' pockets in a timely manner, and we can focus all our energies on serving the residents of Cook County.

Cook County Update - 2/24/09

The Cook County Budget was officially approved and adopted at the February 20th board meeting. The Board originally discussed a 6% across-the-board cut, but SEIU members wouldn't have it. Members called the Commissioners and attended board meetings to demand that the Commissioners think of other ways to balance the budget.

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Cook County Budget Update

Cook County Board of Commissioners are considering eliminating our jobs. SEIU intervened directly as Commissioners are heading in the directions of across the board cuts between 4 and 6 percent. With jobs and essential services at stake, SEIU was present to speak out strongly against such cuts!

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October/ November Bargaining Report

On Friday, November 21, the SEIU Cook County United Bargaining Committee met once more with the County's bargainers. Although the County is still up in arms about the size of our bargaining committee, we have reached tentative agreements regarding some of our issues.

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Letter to SEIU Members on Cook County Hospital Budget

October 28, 2008 Dear SEIU Members
As you know, the Cook County Health and Hospital System Board of Directors submitted their proposed 2009 budget to the Cook County Board of Commissioners last week. The Independent Board sent a letter to Cook County Health and Hospital System workers informing you of their recommendation to eliminate hundreds of direct-care positions across the Bureau. In a time of economic crisis, where more and more of Cook County's most vulnerable families will turn to our hospitals and clinics for their healthcare needs, this is an unacceptable way to balance the CCHHS budget.

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Cook County United September 29th Bargaining Report

At last week's session, our Bargaining Committee made a strong demand for clear and detailed information when members would recieve the money they are owed on upgrades, reclasses, longevity increases, bonuses, retor pay, etc. The problems have been enormous.

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Cook County United Bargaining Update

SEIU Cook County United has demanded answers to three big questions on behalf of our members. We demand answers by our next bargaining meeting on September 29th. For those three questions and the rest of the bargaining updates, click the link.

Bargaining Update

Member Service Center Launches!

Cook County United is working together to give you first-class representation and make sure we get a good contract. If you have a question, concern, or issue on the job, call the Member Service Center. An experienced union staff member will handle your call live and update your vital information in our computer records. The Member Service Center provides prompt service and rapid results.

Call 312.588.7630 or 1.888.734.8573 Monday through Friday, 7:00AM-7:00PM

Cook County Bargaining Begins!

Eighty-five SEIU bargaining team members from every corner of the County met on the morning of September 9th to prepare the first negotiations sessions. From the beginning, SEIU wanted to set the tone. We demanded that the County take these negotiations--and our members-- seriously and wrap up a new contract no later than December 1, 2008!

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It's About Time!

Finally, the County is now saying that all the upgrades and reclasses will be put in place sometime this coming September. For months now, both SEIU Local 73 and HCII have been pressing the County to get the money our members are owed for reclasses and upgrades we won in our last contract negotiations.

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Doctor's Council Votes 98% YES to Ratify New Contract

Attending physicians at ACHN, Porvident and Cermak ratified their first contract with a 98% YES vote in three voting sessions from August 20 to August 22. After several months of bargaining, SEIU doctors reached a tentative agreement on a contract that will have a short duration and will expire in a few months on November 28, 2008.

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First Bargaining Date Set

SEIU in the County is combining its strength to bargain a fair contract for all. Current contracts all expire at the end of 2008. No more spending two years at the table. The aim is to finish bargaining all our contracts by November 30, 2008.

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Who We Are

The July 17th founding meeting of Cook County United brought together around one hundred SEIU stewards and leaders from every corner of he Cook County system. Click the link to see who is represented.

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Cook County Jail Crisis

Recently, SEIU Local 73 Vice President Betty Boles delivered a statement regarding the Justice Department's report on the conditions at the jail. Boles spoke about fixing the bottom line problems--overcrowding and understaffing-- in our jail. Click the link to read her full statement to the Cook County Board.

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Unity Helps Deliver Quality Patient Care

HCII Leaders at Cook County Hospital can deliver the best patient care if we stand strong together.

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One Voice for Quality Patient Care

One Voice -Healthcare employees across Cook County Health Services are uniting our voices to win a strong contract.
To learn about the strong voice that SEIU provides for our workers, visit SEIU Local 73 and SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana.