Brookfield Zoo Chicago Negotiations Begin with the Zoo Making Punitive, Insulting Proposals
Today marked the first day of contract negotiations between Teamsters Local 727 and Brookfield Zoo. The Union began prepared to discuss the dangerous understaffing and the Zoo’s continued insistence to subcontract out Teamster Local 727 work, in violation of the CBA. In a change from past years, the Union did not introduce a comprehensive economic and noneconomic proposal because the Zoo failed to timely provide information necessary for responsible and considered bargaining. The Zoo delivered what appears to be a partial response to the Union’s Request for Information at 4:59pm yesterday, leaving no meaningful time to review and analyze the information prior to today’s session. Additionally, because of the Zoo’s refusal to bargain in good faith or follow the current collective bargaining agreement, the Teamsters Local 727 committee made the decision to help focus Zoo management during bargaining, instead of their historical cherry picking of proposals to talk about.
Despite the Zoo’s attempts to obstruct bargaining, the Union introduced bold proposals that directly address the priorities and demands of the membership:
- Eliminate the Zoo’s ability to subcontract bargaining unit work. Full stop.
- Increase staffing levels by 20% across all departments, with a 5% across-the-board wage premium if the Zoo fails to increase and maintain staffing levels.
A copy of the Union’s initial proposal can be found here.
Staffing shortages and subcontracting were consistently identified by members as critical issues that must be addressed in this contract, particularly due to ongoing safety concerns and workload pressures.
It is worth noting that in separate discussions, the Zoo previously proposed expanding subcontracting of grounds maintenance work. Their own internal documents revealed that subcontracting would cost approximately $140 per hour, an amount equivalent to roughly six full-time bargaining unit positions. Rather than investing those resources into stable, in-house, union jobs, the Zoo appears intent on expanding costly and unnecessary outside contracting. During previous discussions over subcontracting and today’s bargaining, management representatives continued to insist that cost wasn’t considered, isn’t relevant, and that the current workforce, even if increased, is not capable of doing the groundwork. Additionally, the Union proposed language to strengthen the grievance procedure to make the grievance process more equitable.
While the Union’s proposals are focused on strengthening staffing, safety, and job security, the Zoo’s opening proposals were overwhelmingly punitive in nature. Among their ridiculous and insulting proposals, the Zoo seeks to:
- Expand its ability to subcontract union work and limit notification to the Union.
- Increase management’s ability to perform bargaining unit work.
- Limit personal hardship leave.
- Disrupt established overtime distribution procedures and increase mandatory overtime flexibility for management.
- Adjust PTO calendars in ways that reduce employee flexibility.
- Limit sick leave and personal time utilization.
- Curtail FMLA protections.
- Expand disciplinary measures, making it easier for the Zoo to terminate members.
- Worsen pager duty conditions by withholding pay if an arbitrary deadline is missed.
Nearly all of the Zoo’s proposals seek to weaken the bargaining unit, erode hard-fought protections, and shift more control to management at the expense of workers’ rights and workplace stability.
A copy of the Zoo’s initial proposal can be found here.
Your bargaining committee remains committed to fighting for the issues you identified: safe staffing levels, protection of bargaining unit work, and fair working conditions. We will continue to push back against punitive rollbacks and advocate for a contract that respects the vital work you perform every day.
“The Brookfield Zoo Chicago makes a big deal about how they are a non-profit whose mission is animal conservation and acts as if the privilege of working at the Zoo should be enough for its hardworking, front-line employees,” said John Coli, Jr., Teamsters Local 727 Secretary-Treasurer. “They sent an email out crying poor and said the Zoo was on a hiring freeze, then immediately tried to violate the contract and hire subcontractors for half a million dollars. They did not have one positive word to say about their Union workers today and did not introduce one proposal that would better their lives. Every single proposal was intended to hurt our members and strip away our rights. If the Zoo will not come to the table and bargain in good faith, we will not reach an agreement.”
The next scheduled negotiations are Monday, March 23rd. Management previously sent an email to the Union offering four dates, and when the Union did not respond fast enough, they sent a second email saying they had given all but March 23rd away. The current Union contract expires on March 31, 2026.
Notably absent from negotiations today was Dr. Mike, but you can anticipate an email from him summarizing and spinning today’s negotiations.
Please forward any emails or correspondence from the Zoo regarding negotiations to Business Agent Sean McGough at [email protected]. For any questions regarding the union contract or negotiations, please reach out to Sean as well.
Nothing in this article should be read as the union’s waiver of any legal argument, position or grievance(s), or as a waiver of any rights, arguments, or defenses under any contract, collective bargaining agreement, or applicable law. The union does not forfeit its right to make any and all supplemental arguments.
Category: Union News
