The Coalition of Unionized Public Employees (COUPE), came to several important tentative agreements with the City of Chicago yesterday during a 17-hour bargaining session. It is important to note that COUPE negotiations are not complete, and that once the COUPE portion of negotiations are complete, we still must complete Local 1001 specific negotiations before we have a contract. But given the significance of the agreements reached yesterday, we wanted to update you and make sure you have accurate and timely information. To be clear: these are not all of the agreements we have made so far, but a brief summary of some of the agreements that have been reached.
Once the contract is ratified:
1. Sick Time: Hourly employees will begin to earn one half of a paid sick day for each month worked. These sick days will roll over. Salaried employees will continue to earn a full paid sick day each month.
2. Carry Over Days: Employees with less than ten years of service will be able to carry over 5 days (instead of 3), and employees with ten or more years of service will be able to carry over 7 days (instead of 5).
3. Holidays:Veterans’ Day is now a paid holiday for all eligible employees.
Juneteenth is now a paid holiday for all eligible employees.
4. Prevailing Rate Pay: Prevailing rate employees will continue to be paid the prevailing rate.
5. Salary Titles Pay: Those is salary titles will receive the following increases:
Effective (retroactively) July 1, 2022, 3%
Effective (retroactively) January 1, 2023, 3%
Effective January 1, 2024, a base of 3% on up to 5% depending on inflation
Effective January 1, 2025, a base of 3% on up to 5% depending on inflation
Effective January 1, 2026, a base of 3% on up to 5% depending on inflation
Effective January 1, 2027, 3.25%
6. Bonus: Pandemic bonuses for those that were on the payroll between July 1, 2022 and the date of ratification. $1,000 on January 1, 2024 and $2,000 on January 1, 2025. Whether you retire before then or not you will get both payments.
7. Single Call in Days: Employees can use 9 vacation days as single call-in days (instead of the current 6).
8. Single Scheduled Days: Employees can use 9 vacation days as scheduled single days (instead of the current 6).
9. Deferred Compensation Match: The City will match the following amounts into employees’ deferred compensation (457) accounts:
In 2023, up to $500 per year
In 2024, if the employee puts in at least $500 the City will put in $750
In 2025, if the employee puts in at least $500 the City will put in $750
In 2026, if the employee puts in at least $500 the City will put in $750
In 2027, if the employee puts in at least $500 the City will put in $875
- Health Insurance Premiums: There will be no increase in the percentage of health insurance premiums paid by the employee.
Again to make this perfectly clear, these provisions are not yet in place, and will not be in place until there is a contract, which might not be for several months. But the City has agreed to each of them once there is a contract. There are still numerous issues that are still outstanding, and we will continue to update you as we progress through the negotiations.
Thanks for you continued support and the hard work that all of you do every day.
We’re Stronger Together, We’re Union and We Ain’t Going Nowhere!
