Politics & Government

No Progress Made in Bargaining Session to Avert County Strike

AFSCME Local 1028 President Dave Delrose said union officials were "very disappointed that management did not attempt to meet us halfway."

The collective bargaining session held Tuesday between Will County and AFSCME Local 1028 ended without a resolution. No new sessions have been scheduled as a Nov. 13 strike date looms. Local 1028 released this statement at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday:

Dave Delrose, president of AFSCME Local 1028, the union that represents frontline employees of Will County, released the following statement:

"Our union bargaining committee met today with county management and the federal mediator. The union made several proposals seeking common ground on health insurance, but management seemed unable or unwilling to respond and offered little movement from its past position.

"At 8:30 tonight management broke off negotiations. No further bargaining sessions are scheduled at this time.

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"We are very disappointed that management did not attempt to meet us halfway. The union is committed to ensuring fair pay and affordable health care for county employees, and we hope that can be accomplished without disruption to the public services our members provide, but management's unwillingness to compromise is counterproductive to that goal."

AFSCME Local 1028 members voted resoundingly to give their bargaining committee the authority to call a strike if necessary, and last week the union informed county management that it will terminate its contract effective Nov. 13, clearing the way to strike on that date if no settlement is reached.

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