Joint Committee: Health and Human Relations; Workforce Development meeting, February 27, 2024
- When: Tue, Feb 27, 2024, 12:30 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Video: https://vimeo.com/914944111
- Transcript: full text (5,895 words, official captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The joint Committee on Health and Human Relations and Committee on Workforce Development considered one item, a substitute ordinance amending definitions and terms for health and social services contracts with the city. Sponsors described it as a cleanup of the Human Service Workforce Advancement Ordinance passed in March 2023, which sets up a process for workers at delegate agencies with 20 or more employees to reach agreements with employers to prevent service disruptions if they seek to unionize. Five public commenters spoke, including a union representative who supported the ordinance and others who raised unrelated concerns. Alderpersons Ramírez-Rosa and Hadden spoke in support, and the committees recommended passage of the substitute by voice vote, to be reported to the March 20 council meeting.
Topics: delegate agency labor standards, human services workforce, union organizing, health and social services contracts, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 25:54 Public comment
- 43:15 Substitute ordinance amending Municipal Code Title 2 regarding definitions and terms of health and social services contracts with the City of Chicago: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (chair): Explained that the item cleans up an ordinance the council passed in March 2023, which she said was approved 41 to 2 after a long process. (43:19); Asked the union's counsel why passing the ordinance is urgent. (50:27); Said many health and human services are delegated to nonprofits whose workers lack city workers' protections, and that the ordinance will help the city deliver care more sustainably. (52:27)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Said the 2023 ordinance lets workers at delegate agencies with more than 20 employees reach agreements with employers to prevent service disruptions if they seek to unionize. (45:45); Said the substitute changes the notice requirement for disruptions to a more realistic standard and clarifies the definition of contractor, and asked for support. (47:18)
- Carlos Ramírez-Rosa (alderperson): Commended AFSCME Council 31 and the Chicago Federation of Labor and said workers at city delegate agencies should be able to form unions. (48:06)
- Maria E. Hadden (alderperson): Said the city relies on delegate agencies and nonprofit workers, who have asked for more support and protections, and voiced support. (49:15)
Exchanges between members
- 43:06 Co-chair Rodriguez turned the gavel over to Chair Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez.
- 45:39 Chair Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez gave the floor to Alderperson Gilbert Villegas to explain the ordinance.
- 45:42 Alderperson Gilbert Villegas thanked Chair Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez.
- 47:51 Chair Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez thanked Alderperson Gilbert Villegas.
- 49:01 Chair Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez thanked Alderperson Carlos Ramírez-Rosa for his comments and his work on the ordinance last term.
- 54:21 Chair Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez passed the gavel back to co-chair Rodriguez for the vote.