Committee on Workforce Development

@chicago @CHIdocumenters Chairwoman Ald Sue Garza started the meeting at 10:02AM. Meeting is being held on the council channel, not the committee channel - here: https://livestream.com/accounts/28669066/events/8800236

@chicago @CHIdocumenters The first item on the agenda has been passed without comment…

– Approval of the Committee on Workforce Development Rule 45 Report for April 2022

@chicago @CHIdocumenters The second item on the agenda to discuss:

O2022-1694 - Intergovernmental agreement with Cook County regarding extension and/or modification of Chicago-Cook Workforce Partnership as grant subrecipient and fiscal agent for federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds

@chicago @CHIdocumenters Jaye Stapleton, Sr Dir of Social Policies for the City of Chicago presents the ordinance as an ext of the 2012 ordinance which lasted for 7 years. It allows the city to partner with Cook Co in consolidating depts, using federal funds. $50 mil has been allocated for FY 2023.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters Ald Jason Ervin asks for the reason for an additional 7 yr extension. Stapleton explains it will last until 2029, and provides for updates to technology & reporting. It also provides stability for programming & extra time to place participants.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters Ald Tom Tunney asks whether $50 mil budget is annual or over the life of the extension. Stapleton says it fluctuates annually. Tunney adds that an annual report needs to be presented to committee and the public on success rates and spending.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters Resolution No. O2022-1694 has been so ordered. It will be reported during the next city council meeting on 6/22/22.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters The last item on the agenda to discuss:

R2022-144 - Expression of support for Howard Brown Health’s non-nursing workers efforts to unionize

@chicago @CHIdocumenters Two @howardbrownhc employees are present to speak about the ordinance & unionization efforts. They’re joined by reps from the IL Nurses Association and @chicagolabor. David Munar, HB CEO & Pres, is also present.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Lindsay Martin, HB emp, advocates for greater transparency, wages & a voice in decision-making.

Rachel Goins, another emp, advocates for more staff & to address high turnover. She sees 20+ patients weekly, plus groups.

Martin adds that there are 6-7 therapists for 30k+ patients

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Martin also says that in 7yrs on the job, 90-95% of patients have to be referred out due to staffing shortages, with no response from leadership.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor From the IL Nurses Assoc, Margo Gislain, legislative organizer from the IL Nurses Association…

Says that the passage of this ord will be the largest new wall-to-wall union unit in the city of Chicago in the last decade. 35 unionized nurses of 460 employees rn.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Gislain speaks to HB’s inconsisent pay scales & job titles, before discussing retaliatory efforts like leadership removing laptops from call center workers to push in-person work during another COVID spike.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Julia Bartmes, executive director of the IL Nurses Assoc…

Cosigns Gislain’s comments on retaliation, adding that employees have been disciplined, and some terminated, for advocating patients & colleagues, despite stellar performance reviews.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Andrea Kluger, dep chief of staff - govt affairs for the Chicago Federation of Labor…

Stands in solidarity with HB employees, and all other unionization efforts across the city like Worker’s United.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor HB CEO David Munar says he supports workers rights to organize a union, IF that’s what the workers decide. There’s a mandate to not influence those decisions currently in place. He reminds the committee that HB’s mission is oriented around social justice.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Munar acknowledges missteps, says they can do better & are committed to excellent relationships w their workers, regardless of their decision.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Ald Tunney asks Munar to comment on nonprofit status, record profits, staffing levels, and scope of services…

Munar says there are:
- 11 small clinics w 3-4 exam rooms
- 70k covid tests & 80k vaccinations
- 740 employees (52 behavioral health & 60 social service)

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Munar adds that they also offer wraparound services (ie dental). About 25% are uninsured w half of those being 250% below the fed poverty level. Services costs abt $2 mil, monthly. They are a nonprofit & federally qualified health center.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Ald Rossanna Rodriguez comments on how the mental health crisis is burning out workers, which reduces services & is unsustainable.

She adds that the city has decided that the salary for therapists start at $76k, but HB therapists are only making $40k.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Goins shares her salary history at HB.

She started as an intake specialist at $43k (unlicensed). She was promoted to a behavioral health intake coordinator at $55k (unlicensed). After getting licensed, she fought for months & threatened leaving for her pay bump to $65k, but…

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor After Goins got her terminal license, becoming a psychotherapist at HB, where she’s been working for years - she took a pay cut.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Ald Maria Hadden states that “We have unions for a reason.”

Ald Mario Rodriguez comments that HB was very important to his community during the pandemic through Project Vida, which expanded their work 10-fold according to a Tribune study.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Ald Carlos Ramirez-Rosa stands in support of workers & thinks it timely to bring this ordinance during #PrideMonth as HB serves the LGBT community. That also means supporting their workers. He notes that some worker protections aren’t enshrined in law, so unions are needed.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Ald Ramirez-Rosa asks for commitments against ‘captive-audience mtgs’, neutrality in hiring the Jackson Lewis law firm & whether HB will recognize the union…

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Munar commits to neutrality in meetings, mentions that ppl have been terminated for retaliation against emps & that the board is currently evaluating the position (but knows majority of emps support unionization).

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Ald Raymond Lopez notes that the City of Chicago is planning to forgive a $1.7 mil loan to HB & thinks they should follow city rules regarding workers as such.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Kluger, from the CFL, says they’re working on an ordinance to address that disparity & require employers who receive public dollars to remain neutral in unionization efforts. Additionally, she notes the city used to provide these services directly, offering good wages & benefits.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Ald Gilbert Villegas suggests that bidding on projects include minimum wage floors (ie nurses make X, clerical makes Y). He supports adding this to the ordinance now, or in short order.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Ald Andre Vasquez agrees w the idea to set wage expectations in project bids in an ordinance & requests background on precedent for this effort.

Chairwoman Garza says she will follow up & get that from the CFL.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Resolution No. R2022-144 has been so ordered. It will be reported during the next city council meeting on 6/22/22.

@chicago @CHIdocumenters @howardbrownhc @chicagolabor Meeting adjourned at 11:19AM. This concludes the @Chicago City Council Committee on Workforce Development meeting. There was a public audience of 20+ ppl. For more meeting coverage, check out http://documenters.org.