On Feb. 27, the labor board certified the workers\u2019 union petition, saying it had determined 56.5% of miscellaneous staffers had signed union cards with SEIU. The union had previously said it had won the support of around 70% of the workers, with officials attributing the gap largely to staff turnover.<\/p>\n
A CPS spokesperson said in a statement that the district is coordinating with SEIU with the goal to begin bargaining next month.<\/p>\n
\u201cCPS is optimistic about engaging in a productive bargaining process that aims to achieve an agreement beneficial to both the employees and the district,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
After months of back-and-forth, miscellaneous workers say they\u2019re happy for a seat at the table. Romo has worked at Lee Elementary for about a year, assisting in a first grade classroom and monitoring recess.<\/p>\n
She said she signed a union card after learning of the benefits enjoyed by the organized staff, including paid winter and spring breaks, benefits and annual raises.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose were the things that got us like, \u2018OK, it would be nice to also have a voice and representation,\u2019 especially because we\u2019re all Latinas in that school,\u201d Romo said.<\/p>\n
In between shifts, she\u2019s in classes for a teaching degree. \u201cI really, really am very passionate. I want to make a difference,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
![\"Janet](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/CTC-L-CPS-SEIU-union06_260274535.jpg\")
Janet Romo stands outside Chicago’s R.H. Lee Elementary School, where she has worked for about a year, on March 6, 2026. Classified as a miscellaneous worker, she has now joined the Service Employees International Union.<\/p>\n
At Mary Lyon Elementary School in Belmont Cragin, miscellaneous worker Evelia Garcia Guzman shuffles between a variety of roles \u2014 she helps students cross the street, cleans classrooms, passes out snacks and supervises lunch. All five of her own children attended the school.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very excited, because we can finally say that we\u2019re going to have someone who will look out for us, for our future,\u201d Garcia, 43, said in Spanish.<\/p>\n
In recent months, Local 73\u2019s organizing effort became a new source of tension between SEIU and its former ally-turned-rival, the Chicago Teachers Union, fueling acrimony between the two progressive and politically powerful labor unions.<\/p>\n
Like SEIU, the CTU has argued that some of the miscellaneous workers rightfully belong to its bargaining unit but have been chronically misclassified by the district.<\/p>\n
After CPS dropped its objection to SEIU\u2019s petition to organize the workers, CTU pointed to its change in position as evidence that the district and SEIU had \u201cconspired\u201d to undermine its bargaining unit, arguing that CPS only dropped its objection after CTU sought to participate in the case.<\/p>\n
Both the district and SEIU have vehemently denied the conspiracy allegations. SEIU has called the allegations \u201cbaseless,\u201d telling the Tribune at the time that its \u201cgoal has been to secure low-wage workers\u2019 representation and access to a better life.\u201d<\/p>\n