'These Workers Do Their Jobs, But Dist. 130, You Need To Clean Up Your Act Today.”

CHICAGO – Custodial and maintenance workers of Cook County School District 130 represented by SEIU Local 73 rallied Tuesday at Nathan Hale Middle School before the board of education meeting. Union members are calling on the D130 district administration to end its racist and anti-union practices as contract talks continue.

Cook County School Dist. 130 has a dozen public middle and elementary schools under its umbrella, including a Pre-K and learning center, serving students in Blue Island, Robbins, Crestwood and Alsip.

“We’re here to tell [Dist. 130 Supt. Colleen McKay] that the racism and intimidation must end,” said Jeffrey Howard, SEIU Local 73 executive vice president. “We’re not going to stand for it anymore.”

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The union alleges that the D130 administration has repeatedly retaliated against union stewards and workers. Since 2022, employees say have been punished for alleged violations and then terminated for those same supposed violations.

SEIU Local 73 represents 50 custodians and maintenance workers in the district. Ninety-five percent of these workers are Black and Brown women and men. Union representatives claim members are not allowed to speak any other language but English during disciplinary hearings. Those facing discipline are not allowed to bring in translators.

“As a custodian, I work hard every day to keep our schools clean and safe for our students,” said Patricia R., a custodian of 15 years. “When management told us we can’t speak Spanish at work, that is discrimination. We deserve dignity and respect. We should not be silenced because of our language. We are here to keep every student and worker safe from racism.”

State Sen. Willie Preston (18th District), who is running for an open seat in the Illinois 2nd Congressional District, said he started his career as a union janitor.

“So I know what it feels like to go to work, work hard and have no respect at the end of the day,” Preston said. "Let me be clear to Dist.130. These workers do their jobs, but you need to clean up your act today.”

State Rep. Justin Slaughter (27th District) said he stood shoulder to shoulder with the SEIU Local 73 workers.

“We will not be silenced. We will not sit on the sidelines while these racist and anti-union attacks take place in this district,” Slaughter said. “As a social justice champion and state representative, you better believe that I will stand shoulder to shoulder to fight for these essential workers. Hate has no place here.”

The union has been in negotiations for a month after the contract expired on July 1. The administration has rejected virtually every proposal, including ensuring staff are trained on lockdown and law enforcement events.

Stacia Scott Kennedy, SEIU Local 73 executive vice president, called custodians “the backbones of public schools and often the most disrespected employees in our school systems while they are the ones keeping the students safe.”

“We are out here tonight because we have an employer who refuses to allow our members to speak Spanish,” Scott Kennedy continued. “We have an employer who refuses to follow the law and retaliates against the workers. We have an employer who refuses to come to the table and negotiate in good faith. We have an employer who would rather shut down public comment at a board meeting rather than hear from the workers. As an elected officer of SEIU Local 73 I can tell you one thing, we are always ready for a fight.”

Last week, at the working board meeting, union members claimed Supt. Colleen McKay called for the sign-in book to be closed as custodians and maintenance workers were signing in to make public comments – a charge McKay denied.

“The public comment sign-up sheet remained available in the sign-in area before and throughout the meeting,’” McKay said earlier this week in an email to Patch.

“I was there,” SEIU 73 division director Shae Marshall said in response to the superintendent’s statement. “I can verify that the public [comments] signup did not stay open.”

Attendees at Tuesday’s board of education meeting had to through a security check before being admitted into the board meeting, specifically set up for Tuesday’s board meeting.

“It’s intimidation,” a union member said.

After the meeting, a “floater” custodian told Patch that the administration treats custodial staff “like we’re nobody.”

“They tell us we shouldn’t be speaking Spanish but speaking English only,” the floater custodian told Patch. “When we have a problem, we can’t defend ourselves. I don’t think none of the board people will step down a week to do our job, or clean a toilet, or clean up vomit.”