Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is asking county unions to agree to eight unpaid days off of work next year to help save 500 jobs.
Preckwinkle’s offer came in a letter sent out to union leaders this week as she looks to finalize her executive budget recommendation by month's end. In the letter, Preckwinkle asks union workers to give up pay for six holidays, including Labor Day, and to take two other unpaid days off.
Unions, which have been meeting regularly with Preckwinkle as she puts together next year's budget, say they’ve been blindsided.
Evidently, the campaign contributions haven't bought the access they thought they had. But seeing as how County is the most overstaffed, useless and redundant arm of government that we can think of, we aren't surprised.