CHICAGO — On May 7 nearly 200 workers, including animal care specialists, craftworkers, custodians, groundskeepers, maintenance workers, aides and others, members of Teamsters Local 727, won a new contract after two days on strike against the Chicago Zoological Society, which operates the Brookfield Zoo here.
“The big three demands were staffing, keeping our union healthcare, and fair wages,” John Coli Jr., secretary-treasurer of the local, told the Militant. “Staffing has been cut down to a level that is not safe. While we are on strike, some of our members have stayed in the zoo to take care of the animals because management claims they have no one who can do it. These brothers and sisters want to be on the picket line with us, but the zoo owners use our moral values against us to keep them working. There are 3,400 animals at the zoo and only 150 animal care specialists.
“The zoo had refused to pay $800 a month for the union healthcare plan,” he added. “The premium is still less than the company plan. And they hadn’t offered any alternative.”
The union won its key demands, and not one member crossed the picket line. The same day the strike began, Local 727 filed in federal court to get an injunction holding the zoo accountable for any illness or injury to the animals.
“While it is unfortunate that it took a strike and injunction to get the zoo to see reason, today’s tentative agreement is a major win for our members,” said Coli. “The terms provide additional staffing, wage increases totaling 20% over the life of the contract, continuation of the 100% employer-paid union healthcare, and more.”