1,200 Chicago Parking Workers Launch Unfair Labor Practice Strike
Teamsters Local 727 members began a strike across Chicago garages on Tuesday after rejecting a contract offer from the Chicago Parking Association.
Approximately 1,200 parking garage attendants, porters, and customer service representatives represented by Teamsters Local 727 began an unfair labor practice strike at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The walkout followed the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement and the union's rejection of a final contract offer on Monday.
Picket lines formed at O'Hare International Airport, Midway Airport, McCormick Place, and the Hyatt Regency, as well as various hospitals and office buildings. While the union indicated the strike could expand to locations like Navy Pier, the Chicago Department of Aviation and McCormick Place reported that parking operations and scheduled events continued as normal.
Union leadership alleges that employers engaged in unlawful surveillance, retaliation, and a refusal to bargain in good faith. The Chicago Parking Association defended its five-year proposal as unprecedented, stating it offered a 27% increase in wages and benefits, including a 7% raise in the first year, 100% employer-paid health insurance, and new retiree healthcare benefits. The association maintains the package is one of the most generous in the national parking industry.
