Brookfield Zoo Employee Contract Extended as Negotiations Continue

Brookfield, IL - Chicago Zoological Society management and a union representing Brookfield Zoo employees will return to the negotiations table April 21 to continue discussing a new employee contract.

If negotiations fail and workers decide to strike, Teamsters Local 727 — which says it represents almost 300 zookeepers, groundskeepers, patrol officers and zoo workers — has provisions to make sure zoo animals are safe and cared for.

“Our members love their jobs and care deeply about the work they do and the animals they care for,” said John Coli Jr., president of Local 727, in a statement. “They do not want to be forced to take a stand, but if CZS management continues to make unreasonable demands, they will have no choice.”

Local 727 claims Chicago Zoological Society management wants Brookfield Zoo employees pay for $6.5 million in health care increases over the next four years.

“After five months of negotiations, we are finally seeing some movement from management, so we are hopeful that we can come to a fair agreement on the 21st,” Coli said.

An attorney representing the zoo told the Chicago Tribune that management had agreed months ago to shoulder part of the health care cost increase.

The union has also filed unfair labor practice charges against Chicago Zoological Society management based on an alleged misrepresentation of negotiations in an April 5 email to bargaining members.

An extension to the current employee contract is set to expire at midnight April 21.