QUARTERLY PUBLICATION FROM THE FEDERATION OF LABOR • ISSUE 2`• 2019

Chicago Celebrates May Day Led by the Chicago Federation of Labor, workers from across the labor movement celebrate International Workers’ Day

www.chicagolabor.org CONTENTS 4 Affiliate News 6 Cover Story Chicago Celebrates May Day 8 Feature Stories 10 CFL News

COVER PHOTO CROWDS GATHER AT THE HAYMARKET MEMORIAL ON MAY DAY (CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR)

Fight Song

Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra strike for better wages and benefits.

President’s Report CONNECT Chicagoans made their voices heard loud and clear during this year’s municipal elections by FACEBOOK sending to the mayor’s office CHICAGOLABOR by an overwhelming margin and electing 12 new members to the . A new mayor and city council brings new opportunities and new challenges for the labor TWITTER movement, and the Chicago Federation of @CHICAGOLABOR Labor is ready to step up to the plate. Over the course of the campaign, I met with many

TWITTER City Council candidates and several of the mayoral contenders, including Lightfoot. I @PROUDUNIONHOME found my conversations with Mayor Lightfoot to be productive and forward-thinking, and I YOUTUBE was encouraged to see her take a strong stand in support of pro-worker initiatives like the WEAREONECHICAGO

2 | FederationNews PHOTO: CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR

Fair Workweek Ordinance, a clean, safe, and officials is respect – both respect from labor The beginning of a new mayoral effective infrastructure, protecting public for the politician, but also respect for working administration and city council is an exciting service retirement plans, the statewide Fair people from their elected officials. We will and historic time for our city. We are ready to Tax, and increasing the minimum wage. These strive for a respectful relationship with Mayor engage the new administration on the issues issues are critical to unions and having the Lightfoot while never compromising on our that matter to working people, and we are incoming mayor on the record in support core values – and never giving up the fight for eager to continue the fight for sustainable of them provides us with a strong starting the working men and women of Chicago and infrastructure, fair workplaces, higher point to begin our work with the Lightfoot Cook County. wages, affordable healthcare, and strong Administration. We will also continue to work with our communities. There may be, of course, instances where friend and ally Toni Preckwinkle in her role the labor community and the incoming as President of the Cook County Board of mayor do not see eye to eye. That is the case Commissioners. President Preckwinkle has with every elected official at every level of been a supporter of working people while BOB REITER government. I believe what’s most important never backing down from political battles, and PRESIDENT when maintaining relationships with elected we applaud her for a hard-fought campaign.

FederationNews | 3 Read more on these topics at www.chicagolabor.org/news. Affiliate News

Workers and daughter and her granddaughter the 20th Ward. want to be paid to do their jobs.” out of their apartment and in “The hospital industry could Federal employees missed at Electeds Converge with her sister because she can no invest that money,” continued least two paychecks and faced to Call a Code Blue longer afford the rent. Taylor. “We need the money difficult financial decisions about “We might have ended up invested in our communities. how they would pay for rent, on Illinois Hospital homeless,” said Carter. “But We need it invested in health mortgage, medical bills, student Industry today we’re not crying in private, care centers, trauma centers, and loans, car notes, and even basic we’re calling an emergency in resources to save lives. Every necessities like food and gas. Hospital workers and SEIU public—because that’s what it is summer communities across the More than 420,000 workers were Healthcare members from when thousands of hard workers city face a crisis of shootings. It’s essential and forced to work facilities across Greater Chicago are paid poverty wages.” time for hospitals to invest and without pay while 380,000 were in the streets of Douglas Park President of the Cook County prevent these crises.” furloughed and prevented from highlighted the crisis for workers Board of Commissioners Toni working. Many had to rely on in the hospital industry. Preckwinkle spoke her support food banks and other charitable “We’re calling a code blue for the workers’ demands services organized through the because the misplaced priorities and efforts to resuscitate Trump’s United Way during the shutdown. of the hospital industry are the unhealthy industry. “The Government The shutdown cost the U.S. hurting us all,” said Northwestern healthcare workers here today Shutdown Sparked economy approximately $11 Memorial Hospital worker have called for the right to billion, and if the shutdown Kim Smith, kicking off a press unionize in all Illinois Hospital Solidarity for continued much longer, it conference as the march ended Association facilities,” she and from Federal threatened to wreak havoc. across the street from Mt. Sinai said. “It’s time we invest in this SNAP benefits would have run Hospital. community of workers who’ve Employees out for the 43.6 million people Workers, elected leaders and invested so much of their lives who rely on food stamps to keep community supporters detailed into the health and well-being of The Trump Shutdown was the from going hungry. Roughly the crisis and shared stories others.” Marchers carried written longest government shutdown 4.8 million people who rely on about the impact of unfair wages, oversized prescriptions calling in America’s history, lasting 35 housing vouchers to pay rent lack of affordable healthcare for “Fair Wages,” “Industry-Wide days from Dec 22, 2018 – Jan. 25, would have faced eviction. coverage, short staffing, and lack Union,” and “Healthcare for 2019. However federal employees of investment in black and brown Healthcare Workers.” Trump held federal employees organized, mobilized, and rallied communities. “The hospital industry can and the millions of Americans the community in support of “No matter how hard I work, afford everything the workers are who rely on their services hostage ending the shutdown. Rallies I still can’t afford my rent, my asking for today. I know because for a border wall. American and actions were held across medications, food or utilities,” they rake in billions of dollars in Federation of Government the country. While in Chicago, said Tonya Carter, who works in revenue each year and some of Employees District 7 National members of Congress, Rev. Jesse admitting at Mt. Sinai. After 13 them operate like a corporation Vice-President Dorothy James Jackson, CFL Secretary-Treasurer years at the hospital, Carter makes with all the money stashed in said, “Our demand was simple: Don Villar and other community only $13.53 an hour, and is in the investments,” said , open the government now, debate leaders and groups joined in process of moving herself, her then-candidate for Alderman in the wall later. Federal employees several rallies and numerous town

PHOTO: SEIU HEALTHCARE PHOTO: AFGE DISTRICT 7

4 | FederationNews hall events with federal employees program. Candidates received a unions AFGE, NTEU, PASS, “crash course” in essential skills NATCA and more. for new apprentices, including The federal government is math, mechanical reasoning, and In Memoriam funded through September, but the visual-spatial skills. Candidates President has said that he may be also received guidance on Chicago labor lost a pioneer in home healthcare and willing to shut it down again. apprenticeship programs, as well child care organizing March 5 with the passing of as information about the value of Helen Miller. She was 82. unions in protecting wages and For nearly 25 years with SEIU Local 880, Helen Access United and safety on the job. was passionate about home healthcare workers The We Can Build It Coalition being treated with dignity and respect on the job and We Can Build It also supported the Chicago receiving the wages and benefits they deserved for Program Promote Regional Council of Carpenters in their hard work. running a similar four-day program, She was born May 26, 1936, in Louisville, Miss., Trades Opportunities modeled after IBEW’s successful and came to Chicago in 1955 looking for work. Jump Start program. Through In the late 1970s, Helen began working as a home Access United recently experienced that program, 13 additional healthcare provider for the City of Chicago and State success in reaching out to job candidates completed a similar of Illinois’ Department of Rehabilitation Services seekers in the South Shore crash course, preparing specifically (DORS), providing care for people with disabilities neighborhood about opportunities to compete for opportunities to and seniors. in the building trades. Access join the Carpenters’ apprenticeship Helen became one of the first members of the United, the CFL’s program program. Access United supported then-fledgling Local 880, an independent union designed to reduce barriers these candidates as well, providing founded by the national community group ACORN that exist for those who are referrals, application guidance and to organize low-wage workers. She quickly stood out underrepresented in the building administrative support. as a leader and served as a rank-and-file member, a trades, partnered with the We Can We Can Build It will also be steward, a member political organizer, Treasurer in Build It coalition. hosting a massive outreach event at 1986, Vice-President in 1989, and finally rising to The We Can Build It partners, the IBEW Local 134 Union Hall. President of Local 880 in 1999, serving until her which include experienced The event will include dozens of retirement in 2007. apprenticeship prep programs such employers including contractors SEIU Local 880 (now SEIU Healthcare) had its as Chicago Women in Trades and and construction buyers, as well greatest period of growth during Helen’s years of St. Paul Community Development as many of the Chicago-area activism, growing from only seven members in 1983 Ministries, as well as Building building trades apprenticeship to over 70,000 members by 2007 when she retired. Trades Partners with the Chicago programs. Prospective apprentices When the state denied the petition of Helen and co- Regional Council of Carpenters and current union members workers to form their union, the members began a and IBEW Local 134, continue who are seeking work will find 20-year campaign, signing up one member at a time to have success through outreach v opportunities to get connected to and hand collecting dues while also fighting to elect a events. work at the event. new governor and progressive legislators. Access United, along with its The CFL continues to support In 2003, the state legislature passed a new law partners, hosted several building the work of Access United and its ‑ on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote - allowing trades informational sessions mission of creating equity in the Personal Assistants at the Illinois Department of and launched its test preparation trades for all Chicagoans, and will Human Services to organize under the state Labor program at the Lakeside Alliance promote the labor movement as an Relations Act. Resource Center during the month opportunity to earn a fair wage. of March. There is overwhelming interest and participation in recent events, and the program is currently working to connect Submit your stories more than 40 candidates to case Unions and their members are management with community doing great work throughout partners throughout Chicago. our communities, and we want Through the program, to hear about it. 21 candidates participated in Access United’s first-ever Email your stories (200 words apprenticeship test preparation or less) and high-resolution photos (300 dpi or greater) to HELEN MILLER [email protected]. SEIU LOCAL 880 FAR LEFT: SEIU HEALTHCARE WORKERS (NOW SEIU HEALTHCARE) CALL A CODE BLUE ON HOSPITAL WORKERS The CFL reserves the right LEFT: AFGE MEMBERS PROTEST to edit stories for content and PRESIDENT TRUMP’S DESTRUCTIVE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN space allowance.

FederationNews | 5 Cover Story

May Day Celebrated Across Chicago Strikes, rallies, and celebrations coordinated across the city as workers remember and celebrate the history of the labor movement Workers from around Chicago participated in several events this May Each year on May 1, workers around the globe remember the Day, showing their support and solidarity with the labor movement. Haymarket Affair and the struggle for workers’ rights. Here in Chicago, May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, is a time to the CFL supported several labor actions. Workers at the City Colleges celebrate the labor movement and remember the struggle of working of Chicago and teachers at several Chicago charter schools called people. Celebrated worldwide, May Day has its roots right here in a strike to fight for better wages and more workplace protections. Chicago, as it commemorates the 1886 Haymarket Affair. Workers at the University of Chicago rallied with community allies to On May 1, 1886, 40,000 workers in Chicago and hundreds of demonstrate neighborhood solidarity with the workers on campus. The PHOTO: CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR thousands more across the country went on strike, fighting for an Chicago Federation of Labor also collaborated with the Illinois Labor eight-hour work day. These days many people take for granted the History Society to hold a commemoration at the Haymarket Memorial. eight-hour work day standard; however at the time the workers were Hundreds of workers from across the labor movement listened to expected to work 60 hours or more, six days a week, every week. speeches from workers and leaders representing public, private, trades, The strike continued over several days. Though the strike remained manufacturing, and service unions. nonviolent, on May 3, police fired on a crowd of strikers as they The CFL also hosted a town hall meeting to discuss the plight of confronted strikebreakers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine temporary workers in the Chicagoland area. Too many temp workers Company, killing two workers. are being exploited for their labor, with safety concerns disregarded, The next day, May 4, hundreds, maybe thousands of people wages stolen, and organizing rights trampled. As large corporations gathered at Haymarket Square to rally supporters and continue the rely more and more on temporary workers, the CFL remains fight for the eight-hour work day. Though again the crowd was calm committed to fighting for temp worker rights and supporting temp and nonviolent, a home-made bomb was allegedly thrown into the worker organizing efforts. group, exploding and sparking confusion in the crowd. Police fired at “May Day is a special day here in Chicago, a day for all of us to workers and each other in the chaos. In all, a dozen people died and commemorate the struggle for workers’ rights,” said Bob Reiter, many more were wounded, workers and police alike. President of the Chicago Federation of Labor. “I urge everyone to After the incident, eight labor organizers were tried for murder learn more about Chicago’s rich labor history, especially the events that in a farce of a legal proceeding. Union members were prohibited transipired in Haymarket square. We must take the lessons of the past from serving on the jury, and the judge consistently ruled for the into the future as we continue the fight for fairness in the workplace.” prosecution. Though the bomber was never conclusively identified and several of the men were not in the square at the time of the explosion, all eight men were convicted, and eventually four were hanged.

PHOTO: ERICA CLARK

“FAT CAT” AND ACERO EDUCATORS ON THE PICKET LINE AT ACERO ZIZUMBO, DEC. 4, 2018.

6 | FederationNews

PHOTO: CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR w

PHOTO: CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR PHOTO: CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR

ABOVE LEFT: CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR PRESIDENT BOB REITER SPEAKS TO STRIKING MEMBERS OF THE FEDERATION OF COLLEGE CLERICAL & TECHNICAL PERSONNEL LOCAL 1708 AS THEY FIGHT FOR A FAIR CONTRACT ON MAY DAY.

ABOVE RIGHT: CFL SECRETARY TREASURER DON VILLAR (RIGHT) LEADS A TOWN HALL DISCUSSION OF TEMP WORKERS’ RIGHTS ON MAY DAY.

RIGHT: UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO UNION MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY ALLIES MARCH IN A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY.

BELOW: HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHER AT THE HAYMARKET MEMORIAL TO REMEMBER THE HAYMARKET AFFAIR AND CELEBRATE THE HISTORY OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT IN CHICAGO.

PHOTO: GRAD STUDENTS UNITED OF AFT/AAUP

FederationNews | 7 Feature Stories

Thousands Honor Mother Jones at Siamsa na nGael Celebration Thousands packed the Auditorium Theater labor anthems from Pete Seger and Billy organizer with the Knights of Labor and the to hear the story of Mother Jones, the Most Bragg, performed by a huge choir and the United Mine Workers union. Her activism Dangerous Woman in America and one Metropolitan Symphony, narration from Carol brought her to strikes around the country of the heroes of the labor movement. The Marin (SAG-AFTRA), and a troupe of young where she advocated for struggling workers Mother Jones tribute was part of Old St. dancers. and helped usher in early child labor laws. Patrick Church’s annual Siamsa na nGael, After she was born in Ireland, her family While Mother Jones became a national which celebrates famous people of Irish first immigrated to Canada. Mother Jones, figure in the early labor movement and descent through stories, music and dance. a teacher and seamstress, then moved to struggles for workers rights around the The tribute to Mother Jones was Chicago to begin her family. Her life was country, her activism was rooted in the labor postponed by a week because of the Chicago turned upside down when her husband, a struggles of Chicago, and the early years Federation of Musicians strike at the Chicago coal miner, and their four children died from of the Chicago Federation of Labor. The Symphony. Old St. Pat’s planned to hold the yellow fever. She then became a refugee performance at the Auditorium Theater ended event at the Symphony Center on March 12, following the Great Chicago Fire. Like tens with a call to action for those who seek justice 2019. But Mother Jones would turn over in of thousands of others left homeless in 1871, and equity, just like Mother Jones. her grave at the thought of people crossing Mother Jones took refuge at Old St. Pat’s the picket line for her. It was moved down the Church. street and delayed a week to March 19. The tragedy and suffering she endured, Mary Harris Jones’s story was brought and the struggles of working people she to life through songs, which included saw around her, moved her to become an

SNAPSHOTS CFL Honors 2019 Woman of the Year At the March 2019 Delegate’s Meeting, the CFL honored Karen Kent (UNITE HERE Local 1) as the 2019 Woman of the Year for her commitment to making a difference in our movement here in Chicago and across the country. She is a role model to women everywhere as she inspires them to stand up and speak out against injustices of any kind. UNITE HERE Local 1 is the hospitality workers union, comprised of over 15,000 members across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, the majority of whom are women and people of color. In June 2013, Kent was named President of Local 1, becoming the first woman in the century-long history of the local to be elected President. Kent started as a rank and file member of the union as a hotel and restaurant waitress, before joining the union as an organizer and rising through the ranks. PHOTO: CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR Kent has led campaigns for UNITE HERE across the country in California, Las CFL PRESIDENT BOB REITER (RIGHT) RECEIVES Vegas, New York City, Dallas, Chicago and THE 2019 A. PHILIP RANDOLPH GENTLE WARRIOR AWARD, PICTURED HERE WITH CLIFF KELLEY OF beyond. In 2016, under Kent’s leadership, WVON (LEFT), A. PHILIP RANDOLPH PULLMAN UNITE HERE Local 1 launched the “Hands PORTER MUSEUM FOUNDER DR. LYN HUGHES Off Pants On” campaign, also known as AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAVID PETERSON. HOPO, here in Chicago to fight sexual harassment in the hospitality industry. The HOPO ordinance requires hotels to provide a “panic button” to any worker who works alone and prohibits hotels from retaliating against workers for reporting harassment CFL 2019 WOMAN OF THE YEAR KAREN KENT (UNITE or assault by a guest, or exercising any right HERE LOCAL 1). afforded by the ordinance. Since the campaign began, HOPO has garnered national and international recognition, and has become the model for other cities to emulate. In September 2018, Kent and her members led the broadest citywide hotel strike in Chicago’s history and secured new contracts at 25 downtown Chicago hotels, covering nearly PHOTO: SEIU HEALTHCARE 6,000 housekeepers, servers, cooks and doormen. In addition to her Local Union duties, Karen LABOR ACTIVIST BEA LUMPKIN ATTENDS THE serves as an Executive Vice President of the international UNITE HERE and is an Executive 2019 CFL WOMEN’S LUNCHEON Board Member of the Chicago Federation of Labor.

8 | FederationFederationNewsNews Strong Women. Strong World. The CFL celebrates the dynamic women of the labor movement

On Tuesday, April 23, the Chicago Federation life better for generations to come.” said Painters District Council 14, Plumbers Local of Labor and its affiliates hosted a its 2019 Lieutenant Governor Stratton. “Gov. Pritzker 130, SEIU Healthcare, Sheet Metal Workers Women’s Luncheon themed: “Strong Women. and I need you at the table...we are committed Local 73, Teamsters Joint Council 25, UNITE Strong World.” The luncheon provided to working along side of you as we create a HERE Local 1, and West Suburban Teachers women from across the movement an better state.” Union Local 571. opportunity to hear from women leaders UNITE HERE Local 1 President Karen All attendees were presented with a red within labor, politics and the community. Kent presented her journey from a rank-and- rose and loaf of bread in honor of the The theme “Strong Women. Strong World.” file member to leadership, telling attendees, Bread and Roses strike of 1912, which was highlighted the work that women have done “Find your voice, be comfortable with your a fight for fair wages and dignified working in the fight for workplace equality, paid family voice...Women are always listening.” conditions, a fight that continues today. leave, heath and child care as well as dignity Chicago Teachers Union Vice President and respect in the workplace. The event Stacey Davis Gates reminded the audience ABOVE: ATTENDEES LISTEN TO A PRESENTATION featured women who have been instrumental that, “The union has to be about justice and FROM CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION PRESIDENT STACY on behalf of the labor movement and equity. It also has to be about making people DAVIS GATES. continue to fight for women’s rights every uncomfortable.” BOTTOM LEFT: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JULIANA day. Speakers for the day included Illinois The event was free for all attendees STRATTON ADDRESSING THE ATTENDEES Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton; due to the generosity of sponsors, which BOTTOM RIGHT: (LEFT TO RIGHT) JACQUEE President of UNITE HERE Local 1 Karen included Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers ALGEE (SEIU HEALTHCARE), GREG KELLY (SEIU Kent; Vice President of Chicago Teachers Administrative Council 1, Chicago Regional HEALTHCARE), NIKKI HAYES (LABORERS LOCAL Union Stacy Davis Gates; Former Executive Council of Carpenters, Coalition of Labor 1001), ANNE LADKY (WOMEN EMPLOYED), Director of Women Employed Anne Ladky. Union Women, CMRJB Workers United, KAREN KENT (UNITE HERE LOCAL 1), LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JULIANA TRATTON, BOB REITER (CFL), “Thank you for all of the energy you IATSE Local 476, IBEW Local 9, IBEW STACEY DAVIS GATES (CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION), give day after day because you are making Local 134, IUOE Local 399, LiUNA Local 2, NORA CAY RYAN (CFL), CHARISE WILLIAMS (CFL)

PHOTO: PAINTERS LOCAL 1332

PHOTO: PAINTERS LOCAL 1332 FederationNews | 9

PHOTO: SEIU HEALTHCARE PHOTO: SEIU HEALTHCARE CFL News

Chicago Railcar Facility Officially Opens The Chicago Transit Authority and Chicago Local 134, SMART Local 73 and Jobs to following the announcement to receive Federation of Labor reached a major Move America. The announcement was made specialized training in assembling prototypes milestone on March 25, 2019, when a ribbon at CRRC’s $100 million factory on Chicago’s for the CTA. The prototypes for the next cutting ceremony was held to officially open Southeast side, which is set to become fully generation of CTA railcars are expected to be the facility. During the press conference, it operational by the end of 2019. The CRRC completed by 2019. was announced that 70 workers had been hires are the first new railcar manufacturing “I think the fact that they’re able to go to hired by CRRC Sifang America to construct workers in the city in 50 years. China and actually see how this process works railcars for the CTA 7000 Series contract. The new facility “means high-road, high helps invest them in the process and allows These new hires are a product of partnership paying, good union jobs that will allow these them to truly understand what it is they’re spearheaded by the Chicago Federation workers to provide for their families,” said doing and how it all comes together,” said of Labor to bring quality union jobs back Nora Cay Ryan, Chicago Federation of Labor Ryan. “It makes them more effective in what to the city through the use of innovative Chief of Staff, at the press conference. they do.” procurement language, along with IBEW The new workers traveled to China 2019 William A. Lee Memorial Scholarships Awarded to Ten Recipients Each year, the Chicago Federation of CFL President Bob Reiter. “These winners an ironworker, and called the partnership Labor awards 10 William A. Lee Memorial have demonstrated a fantastic understanding between government, employers, and unions Scholarships to high school seniors, valued at of the importance of the labor movement, “a crucial step in the development of modern $2,000 each. Five winners are selected as the and we are honored to watch them take the safety measures.” winners of the academic competition, while next step in their educational journey.” Congratulations to our 2019 William A. five winners are drawn by lottery. Scholarship applicants wrote about the Lee Memorial Scholarship winners: Christine The scholarship is named after William impact of the labor movement on their lives Hou (UNITE HERE Local 1), Jamie Kaiser A. Lee, the longest-serving President of the and within their families. Scholarship winner (AFT Local 604), Christopher Major (UFCW Chicago Federation of Labor, from 1946 Edward Matesan (IBEW Local 134) wrote, Local 881), Edward Matesen (IBEW Local to 1984. President Lee dedicated his life “The Labor Movement rose as the beacon 134), John Mullen (Chicago Fire Fighters to improving the lives of working people. of hope in a rather tumultuous period in Local 2), Patrick Regan (IUOE Local 399), The scholarship funds may be used at any American history,” and said it “promised Kevin Scahill (Iron Workers Local 1), Mitchell accredited college or university in the United to counter the effects of oppression on the Whelan (UFCW Local 881), Conor White States. ordinary person.” (IUOE Local 399), and Jennifer Wilson (AFT “This scholarship is a fantastic way to Winner John Mullen (Firefighters Local Local 943). support the next generation of labor,” said 2) wrote of his grandfather’s experience as

BACK ROW: (LEFT TO RIGHT) CFL SECRETARY- TREASURER DON VILLAR, JENNIFER WILSON (AFT LOCAL 934), EDWARD MATESAN (IBEW 134), MITCHELL WHELAN (UFCW 881), JOHN MULLEN (CHICAGO FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 2), CHRIS MAJOR (UFCW 881), CFL PRESIDENT BOB REITER. FRONT ROW: CONOR WHITE (IUOE 399), JAIMIE KAISER (AFT LOCAL 604), CHRISTINE HOU (UNITE HERE LOCAL 1). NOT PICTURED: KEITH SCAHILL (IRONWORKERS LOCAL 1) AND PATRICK REGAN (IUOE 399).

PHOTO: CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR

10 | FederationNews Chicago Elects New Mayor, Treasurer, City Council Chicagoans made history on April school board to village Mayor and 2, 2019 in electing Lori Lightfoot Trustee. as the first black woman and The coming months will be CFL Welcomes New Staff Members openly LGBTQ mayor of Chicago. subject to much change at the Lightfoot captured 74 percent of City Council, as new aldermen are the vote, and her victory ensured ushered in and committees change Mia Berry joins the team as a new Labor that Chicago and Cook County will hands. The CFL welcomed the Liaison between the Chicago Federation of be run by two strong black women, new aldermen into their positions Labor and United Way of Metro Chicago. with Toni Preckwinkle remaining and look forward to working with Prior to joining the Access United team, as President of the Cook County them on behalf of working men Berry served at the workforce development Board of Commissioners. and women in Chicago. Those initiative Ascend Indiana, as a Recruitment CFL President Bob Reiter tweleve new aldermen include: and Operations Coordinator working with called the election “a remarkable (1st), Stephanie Indiana employers and post-secondary moment in the history of our great Coleman (16th), Jeanette Taylor institutions. city” and offered congratulations (20th), Mike Rodriguez (22nd), to Mayor-elect Lightfoot “on her Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th), momentous election, becoming Felix Cardona, Jr. (31st), Rossana the first black woman and first Rodriguez Sanchez (33rd), openly LGBTQ mayor of the City (39th), Andre of Chicago.” Reiter said, “Mayor- Vasquez (40th), Jim Gardiner elect Lightfoot’s platform included (45th), (47th), and a strong vision for the future of (49th). our city, and we are eager to get The CFL thanked union Ana Maria Montes de Oca-Rojas, Labor to work with her to improve the members across Cook County who Liaison between the Chicago Federation lives of working families — from mobilized to elect new leaders that of Labor and United Way of Metro Rogers Park to Roseland and embody the values of the labor Chicago, joined the team on February 25 everywhere in between.” movement. after working with Access United partner Reiter also congratulated Toni Central States SER as a Business Services Preckwinkle on a hard-fought Coordinator for eight years. She brings campaign, saying, “We also look experience in networking, workforce forward to continuing to work development, interviewing, community with our friend and ally Toni outreach, and job placement assistance. Preckwinkle. A stalwart supporter of working people, President Preckwinkle has fought to protect the health and safety of the people of Cook County while never shying away from tough political battles.” The other runoff elections held Jake Lewis joined the Chicago on April 2 were for 15 aldermanic Federation of Labor in March as its seats and the City Treasurer. Many new Communications Director. Jake CFL-endorsed candidates won previosuly served as the Campaign their runoff elections, including Director for Illinois Working Together, Melissa Conyears-Ervin for City labor’s effort to defeat former Governor Treasurer, (5th), Bruce Rauner’s anti-worker agenda. He (6th), Raymond has experience with both government Lopez (15th), Jeanette Taylor and politics, working as a consultant with (20th), (21st), PHOTO: CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR 270 Strategies, as Field Director for now (30th), Felix CFL PRESIDENT BOB REITER WITH Sen. Tammy Duckworth in 2012, and as Cardona (31st), Samantha Nugent THEN MAYOR-ELECT LORI LIGHTFOOT a legislative assistant for former Illinois (39th) and James Cappelman (46th) Gov. Pat Quinn. for Alderman. Across suburban Cook County, over 20 CFL- endorsed candidates were elected into seats ranging from library and

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CFL Delegates’ Stay Informed! Join the CFL in standing up for working people and Meetings building a strong middle class. Tuesday, October 1, 2019 Follow us: No Delegates’ Meeting in July, August or www.facebook.com/chicagolabor September. www.twitter.com/chicagolabor

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Federation News is a quarterly publication of the Chicago Federation of Delegates must present their current Chicago Labor ©2019 Federation of Labor membership card or this Federation News is owned and controlled by the Chicago Federation of notice for admission. We look forward to Labor for the education, protection and advancement of organized labor. full representation from your local union to assist the Federation in the development of Editor in Chief: Robert G. Reiter Jr., President its policies. Editor: Don V. Villar, Secretary-Treasurer Managing Editor: Jake Lewis Contributors: Elaine Fleck, Gus Fuguitt, Andrea Kluger, Matt Muchowski, James Muhammad, DON V. VILLAR Nora Cay Ryan and Charise Williams SECRETARY-TREASURER