The Housing Authority of Cook County, the second largest public housing authority in Illinois, employs union and non-union staff to execute the mission of providing equitable care and resources for eligible residents of Suburban Cook County seeking to attain affordable housing and opportunities to thrive.
As of February 17, 2025 Housing Authority of Cook County is currently in contract negotiations with Service Employees’ International Union (SEIU), Local 73 representing administrative and clerical employees as well as maintenance employees.
The last collective bargaining agreement for union maintenance employees was effective January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2023. The last collective bargaining agreement for union administrative and clerical employees was effective April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2024.
On behalf of its members, SEIU Local 73 union representatives submitted a request to “raise the lowest paid employees’ salaries” and to “honor seniority and longevity.” The HACC welcomes the opportunity to make appropriate adjustments and accommodations in a new agreement that supports a fair and equitable workplace.
To advance good faith negotiations in areas of an impasse, a federal mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service will engage both parties towards an agreeable solution. Once each agreement has been finalized it will be presented to the HACC Board of Commissioners for official approval.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced several actions under the new Trump Administration while federal funding of PHA projects and support services are being reviewed. A recent HUD press release states that a new task force and HUD employees “will examine how to best maximize the agency’s budget and ensure all programs, processes and personnel are working together to advance the purpose of the department.”
The Housing Authority of Cook County will proceed with its union labor negotiations optimistically and with mediation guidance from HUD, which has the right under federal law to abrogate contracts, including labor agreements, under certain conditions.
While the scrutiny and staffing at HUD are expected to have an impact for local PHAs nationally, the Housing Authority of Cook County continues to work toward operational improvements and executing our three-year strategic plan.
“We want to be known as an agency that supports its employees’ professional growth through training, mentorship, and career development opportunities. I am excited to lead the change that builds a safe, healthy and equitable workplace that underscores job satisfaction and sense of fulfillment,” says Executive Director Danita Childers.
Childers leads the commitment to prioritize and improve human resources at the HACC with a focus on:
• Finalizing new union contracts with agreeable terms.
• Aligning employee benefits, including the adjusting the share of healthcare costs to comparable contributions.
• Adjusting the standard hours per work week and offering flexible start and stop times.
• Developing an optimal organizational structure with additional leadership roles.
• Modifying specific job titles, job descriptions, and policies for performance reviews.
• Establishing new policies for non-union compensation, merit increases, and cost of living adjustments.
• Requiring employee and candidate transparency regarding secondary employment, familial relationships, and/or conflicts of interest.
The HACC is currently seeking a Public Information Officer as well as an Inspector General to support clear and transparent operations.
To ensure the agency is structured to fulfill its mission and responsibilities to the public, the Housing Authority of Cook County will continue to undergo changes, whether voluntary, mutual or based on organizational needs and/or performance expectations. “This organizational change is not only an imperative, but it’s also a commitment to becoming a great place to work with a dedication to better service for our residents,” says Childers.
