|
COOK COUNTY, IL -- Teamsters Local 700 has cited several instances of mistreatment of members, blatant contract violations, and harassment of Union Stewards at the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court. These include unilateral changes and violations of the collective bargaining agreement involving the lateral and promotional bidding process that restrict options for members, blanket denials of time-off requests, shortchanging members' raises, and frequent discipline for Stewards trying to protect the rights of their coworkers.
"We have done everything in our power to get this administration to see that it is better to work with our members than bully or ignore them," said Geoff Daniels, the Teamsters Local 700 Business Agent assigned to the Clerk's office. "At every turn, they try to skirt the Collective Bargaining Agreement and do things the way they want to, with complete disregard for the interests of the people doing the work."
The Union sent a Demand to Bargain letter in April when it became aware of significant changes to management's lateral and promotional bidding processes. Despite meeting consistently since then, management has moved ahead with their changes despite not reaching an agreement or an impasse. Now, they say that they cannot allow people to take time off for the months of June and July because they need to train new Court Clerks.
"It's a ridiculous decision, plain and simple," Daniels said. "Members work hard all year to earn their time and should be able to take it as they see fit. We are entering a season of family get-togethers and graduations, but this administration wants our members to pay for their poor planning. It's just the latest example of total indifference to their employees, and it could all be avoided if they ceased moving on their policy around these bids until an agreement was in place."
Teamsters Local 700 also calls out frequent mistreatment and harassment of both Union members and Stewards.
"This administration consistently berates our members at all levels of management," Daniels explained. "The good employers I have seen look for ways to work with Union Stewards – they understand that they are leaders for their worksites and can ensure operations efficiency while also doing their job to represent their coworkers. That's not the case here. These members have decades of experience and often more experience than their managers. None of that is valued by this employer."
So why does the Martinez administration not look to improve relations with their employees and their Union? While we cannot know for sure, the Union does have one theory.
"You look at the upper administration, and many of them are running for office elsewhere," Daniels said. "It's apparent that they view this as a stepping stone for personal advancement. Their commitment is not to the Clerk's office. That should be a concern to our members who work here and taxpayers as a whole. It is not too late to right the ship, but we need to see the commitment."
On Friday, June 3rd, Teamsters Local 700 filed a Complaint for an Injunction in Aid of Arbitration against the Clerk's office over the significant changes to the lateral & promotional bidding process and the irreparable harm it would have on membership.
The Union will continue to fight for the members, and it is time for the Clerk to treat these members with the dignity and respect they deserve.
# # #
| 
