After two days, the Teamsters Local 727 strike at Brookfield Zoo Chicago has come to an end after representatives from each side reached a tentative agreement on a proposed four-year contract.
Press releases from both sides of the labor dispute announced the end of the strike the morning of Wednesday, May 6, five days after the previous collective bargaining agreement had expired on Friday, May 1.
Members of the union are expected to vote to ratify the new contract “in the coming days,” according to Teamsters, with striking employees expected to return to work at the zoo after the contract is approved.
Union workers on the animal care team have already returned to work and did not participate directly in the strike, though Teamsters’ statement said they were “ready to join the [picket] line” had the strike continued.
The new contract will see union workers receive wage increases of 20% over the duration of the contract, or 5% per year. The zoo’s final offer to workers before they voted to strike had included raises of only 14.5% over the four years, about 3.7% per year.
Both of Wednesday’s press releases said the tentative agreement also includes the continuation of zoo-funded healthcare provided through the union and additional staffing in the zoo’s animal care and facilities teams.
In its press release, the union said it “escalated its fight for fairness” by filing a federal injunction against the zoo the morning of Tuesday, May 5. Up to 14 charges of unfair labor practices are pending with the National Labor Relations Board, filed by the union against the zoo during the initial bargaining process.
“Today’s tentative agreement is a major win for our members,” said John Coli, Jr., the union’s secretary-treasurer, in the union’s written statement. “This outcome reflects the strength, unity, and determination of our members, and it shows what workers can achieve when they stand together.”
In the zoo’s statement, President and CEO Michael Adkesson said the organization’s leaders are “excited” to welcome the striking workers back and move forward.
“This zoo has always been powered by people who care deeply about one another and our mission,” Adkesson said. “This agreement reflects a commitment to continuing to provide exceptional care and educational experiences for our guests while supporting the long-term health and sustainability of the zoo.”
Sean McGough, a business agent for the union, did not return a request for comment on Wednesday.
Union members initially voted on Tuesday, April 28, to authorize the strike due to the zoo’s alleged unfair labor practices, McGough told the Landmark on April 29. He said then that understaffing, low wages and low contributions to workers’ healthcare were prominent issues during bargaining that led to an impasse between the two parties.
An agreement was initially expected to be reached by April 29, when a half day of bargaining was scheduled following a full day on April 27, but Teamsters said the zoo “abruptly ended bargaining early” on April 27 and issued its last, best and final offer that day.
Representatives from each side met the morning of Friday, May 1, to continue bargaining until the previousagreement ended at 11:59 a.m., with the strike beginning on Monday, May 4. That agreement was set to expire on April 1 before it was extended by another month to facilitate bargaining.
