Sun-Times Reports Revenues Back to “Pre-Pandemic Levels” at Multiple Local 727 Signatory Companies
According to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times, a number of employers and industries including LAZ Meters, the Chicago Skyway, and Parking, all of whom have collective bargaining agreements with Local 727, are doing quite well after comparing recent revenues to “pre-pandemic” revenue levels.
The article specifically references Chicago parking meters, whose revenues climbed to $136.2 million dollars in 2021 following a dip to $91.6 million in 2020; it should be noted that the Union opened negotiations for a successor agreement with LAZ Meters on Friday, May 27th. Also mentioned in the article were four city-owned parking garages that reported $22 million in revenue, up 37.5% from the $16.2 million last year. Additionally, the article reported that the Chicago Skyway generated $114.3 million, a 34.7% increase in revenue which is also well over the $92 million that Skyway reported as revenue in 2019.
“So many of our members were expected to – and did – take a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 727. “There were mass furloughs where we still have members waiting to be recalled to work, there were wage freezes, there were employees required to take on additional duties without additional compensation, and there were the obvious health risks that those who remained on the job faced day in and day out, often without hazard pay or, in some cases, without compensation for absences due to COVID related illness. To hear that these companies are returning to normal or increased revenue levels is great news. It goes without saying that Local 727 expects these companies to acknowledge the sacrifices their employees made over the past two years and to share the wealth they are currently experiencing.”
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.
