April 16, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact Andre Garner, Director of Communications & Public Affairs, at 773-562-8874 or email Garner at afgarner@cookcountygov.com.

Stroger, Dart Announce Rehiring of Forty Union Janitors

Funds to be reallocated from contract with outside vendor, making $1.25 million available to rehire laid off custodial staff.

See below for high-resolution photo.

Chicago – Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart hosted a joint press availability this afternoon to announce the rehiring of forty janitors who were laid off in the wake of $500 million in budget cuts for fiscal year 2007. The rehired employees worked for the Sheriff’s Office, and will be redeployed to clean the County Building at 118 N. Clark St. and the Juvenile Court Complex.

By state statute, the Sheriff is the custodian of all County courthouses, including the County Building, which houses the County’s marriage courts, and the Juvenile Court Complex. But the FY 2007 budget shortfall forced cuts that led to the layoffs of sixty-one Sheriff’s custodians and the elimination of another 18 open positions this February, creating considerable hardship in maintaining facilities, particularly at the County Building.

“It’s a testament to the inventiveness of our County managers that we’ve been able to identify opportunities to reallocate funds that allow us put our people back to work,” said County Board President Todd Stroger. “I’m delighted that we’ve had the opportunity to work collaboratively with Sheriff Dart to rehire these employees.”

The funds to rehire the workers are being made available by forgoing the continuation of a contract with an outside vendor to clean the Juvenile Court Complex, a move which frees up $1.25 million to instead rehire the laid off County custodians.

The Sheriff’s custodial chief was scheduled to visit both sites today to make a determination about how the rehired staff should be assigned between the two buildings. The returning employees will be rehired based on seniority, under the terms of the labor contract between their union, SEIU Local 73, and Cook County.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to continue to collaborate with President Stroger in tackling shared issues of common concern,” said Sheriff Dart. “As constitutional officers, we have a joint interest in maximizing efficiencies in County government, and I look forward to the opportunity for our offices to continue to work together in the coming months and years.”

For more information, contact Andre Garner, Director of Communications & Public Affairs for the Office of the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, at 312-603-0393 or email Garner at afgarner@cookcountygov.com.

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