Council mandate would ‘devastate’ social service providers, members warned

Chicago’s human service providers may soon be required to sign “labor peace agreements” that allow their employees to join unions, in order to qualify for millions of dollars in city grants — even if the mandate jeopardizes the level of service.

Two City Council committees — Workforce Development and Health and Human Relations — voted 24-5 Tuesday to impose that requirement on social services providers with 20 or more employees. That sets the stage for a full Council vote on Wednesday.

The lopsided vote came after a spirited twohour debate featuring dire warnings of vital services that could be diminished or eliminated if unionization results in higher wages for a workforce dominated by women of color.

A labor peace agreement does not trigger unionization. It simply gives employees the opportunity to organize and join unions if they choose, without fear of retaliation. In exchange, labor organizations generally agree not to engage in work stoppages or other job actions.

Even so, the mere threat of higher costs was enough to scare human services providers and their champions.

Jack Lavin, president of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, warned that services taxed to the limit during the pandemic would be “devastated” and “crippled” by the requirement. Some organizations that “support our most vulnerable populations” will be forced to “eliminate jobs or close their doors entirely,” he said.

Chicago Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said she, too, is “worried about disruption in essential health and human services” because of the “unintended consequences” of a “well-intentioned” ordinance.

Workforce Development Chair Susan Sadlowski Garza (10th) noted the labor peace ordinance was the product of a “three-year process” with no fewer than “five listening sessions.”

When Arwady asked that the ordinance be held in committee with no vote taken, Garza shut the commissioner down cold.

“If you haven’t seen this ordinance in three years, then shame on this [Lightfoot] administration for not bringing it to you and talking to you,” the retiring Garza said.

Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter accused social service providers of attempting to “run out the clock.”

Delaying the vote “isn’t gonna change anything,” he said.