More than 100 staff at Brookfield Zoo Chicago go on strike; zoo remains open to the public

Source: CBS Chicago

Story by Todd Feurer • 12h

More than 100 workers at Brookfield Zoo Chicago went on strike on Monday, amid a contract impasse, but the zoo said it's still open to the public and operating as usual.

Teamsters Local 727, which represents animal care specialists, groundskeepers, patrol officers, seasonals, aides, and custodians, said the zoo's latest contract offer would take away their current health care plans without providing a comparable alternative.

Their existing contract with the zoo expired Friday at noon, and the union said after zoo management ended negotiations Friday afternoon without providing a counteroffer to the union's proposal, all Local 727 members except for animal care specialists went on strike Monday at 5 a.m.

The union said animal care specialists will join the strike once they have finalized an essential care plan for the animals at the zoo.


Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/more-than-100-staff-at-brookfield-zoo-chicago-go-on-strike-zoo-remains-open-to-the-public/ar-AA22mHiK?ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&cvid=d5dbfbe3bd2e4531c0b7ec80fc021b40&cvpid=d03bc69465ca4b76ca3ac81abc0dd926&ei=19