Cook County workers hold sit-in outside Preckwinkle’s office, mark 13th day on strike

A group of striking Cook County workers staged a sit-in Wednesday outside Cook County Board President Toni Preckinkle’s office.

SEIU Local 73 held the sit-in after getting no response from Preckwinkle or county negotiators to the union’s latest proposal delivered Friday. Custodians, technicians and administrative staff took part in the sit-in, which began about noon and ended about 4 p.m.

No one was arrested at the Cook County Building downtown.

About 2,000 county workers have been on strike for 13 days.

The Universalist Multiracial Unity Action Council, 27 Chicago faith leaders and Chicago labor union leaders sent letters Wednesday to Preckwinkle, calling on her to settle the strike.

No negotiations are scheduled. The union on July 1 turned down the county’s offer of an 8.5% pay increase over four years.

Lead union negotiator Larry Alcoff said the county offered less than it had agreed to with other unions.

Alcoff said the county’s proposed anniversary raises — a wage increase based on the amount of years an employee has been with the county — increase at a slower and smaller rate. Another sticking point is rising costs of health insurance.