Committee on Workforce Development meeting, July 17, 2023
- When: Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 1:30 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Workforce Development
- Video: https://vimeo.com/845365637
- Transcript: full text (4,348 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 Committee on Workforce Development heard one public commenter and approved its June 12, 2023 Rule 45 report. The committee accepted a substitute and recommended passage of a resolution sponsored by Alderperson Carlos Ramírez-Rosa expressing solidarity with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in contract negotiations with UPS, after testimony from a UPS driver; several members spoke in support, including former UPS and Teamster workers, and the chair noted a letter UPS sent to members. The committee also recommended passage of a resolution establishing a Subcommittee on Youth Employment, with Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes speaking about her expectations for its work.
Topics: Teamsters and UPS contract, Labor solidarity, Youth employment, Subcommittee creation
Agenda items discussed
- 48:44 Rule 45 report from the June 12, 2023 meeting: passed
- 49:18 Substitute resolution expressing solidarity with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in contract negotiations with UPS: passed
- 1:05:06 Resolution establishing the Subcommittee on Youth Employment: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Michael D. Rodriguez (chair): Acknowledged a letter UPS sent to committee members, to be included in the next Rule 45 report. (49:50); Said he is the son of a Teamster and thanked the UPS driver for testifying. (1:04:24); Introduced the youth employment subcommittee resolution as a focus of the mayor's agenda. (1:05:16)
- Carlos Ramírez-Rosa (alderperson): Presented the resolution, saying a strike would be the largest single-employer strike in U.S. history and that UPS's profits allow it to support its workers. (54:21)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Described his years as a UPS driver, said a two-tier pay system began during his time there, and said he stands in solidarity with UPS workers. (56:09)
- Derrick G. Curtis (alderperson): Asked to be added to the resolution and cited the hard work and robbery risks UPS drivers face. (1:02:15)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Said his father and wife had Teamster ties and that he supports the resolution fully, noting delivery companies have done well since COVID. (1:02:46)
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Supported creating a youth employment subcommittee to expand year-round opportunities and expressed confidence in Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes. (1:06:28)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Shared her personal story and said investing in jobs and livable wages for young people is key to addressing public safety. (1:07:46)
Exchanges between members
- 1:02:15 Curtis referred to Sposato, noting he also had a work background before becoming an alderperson, and said he stands with the workers.
- 1:06:57 Vasquez said he felt confident in Fuentes' ability to lead the subcommittee's work.