Parking attendants strike at O’Hare, McCormick Place, Hyatt Regency

Parking attendants formed picket lines Tuesday at O’Hare Airport, McCormick Place and the Hyatt Regency as their union accused parking operators of bargaining in bad faith.

Members of Teamsters Local 727 began striking at 5:30 a.m. at the three locations, a union spokesperson said. The union represents nearly 1,200 members who staff parking garages across the city. They’ve been bargaining with the Chicago Parking Association over a contract that expired Friday, when 98% of voting members authorized a strike.

The picket could potentially expand to other parking garages, such as at Navy Pier, according to the Teamsters.

Parking operations continued normally at O’Hare despite the picket, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation, which operates O’Hare.

McCormick Place’s parking garages were also operating as usual, according to a spokesperson. Events and conventions will continue as planned, the spokesperson said. Representatives for Hyatt Regency did not immediately comment.

The Teamster’s parking attendants recently voted down the operator’s last contract proposal. The Teamsters, in a statement, said the proposal was presented as a “disrespectful ‘last, best, and final’ offer.” The union accused the operators with refusing to bargain, failing to provide information, and making “unilateral changes to working conditions, retaliation, and unlawful surveillance.”

A Chicago Parking Association spokesperson defended the contract proposal as “unprecedented” and “one of the most generous compensation packages in the parking industry nationwide.” The association’s five-year contract offer includes an overall 27% increase in wages and benefits, and a 7% wage increases in the first year, according to the spokesperson.

The proposal also includes a new retiree healthcare benefit and more paid time off. “We believe the offer on the table represents a substantial commitment to our employees and demonstrates just how far we are willing to go to reach a fair agreement,” the spokesperson said.