From UIC to Starbucks, Unions are Having a Moment
**UPDATE**
The Graduate Employees' Organization tweeted late Monday night that the strike was suspended. The podcast is updated to include that news.
Statement from UIC about a tentative agreement
After a year without a new labor contract, the graduate student union at the University of Illinois Chicago went on strike last week. Bargaining continues around wage increases, student fees, healthcare costs, and more. On Monday, the union sent a letter to Gov. JB Pritzker warning the standoff with the UIC administration will do “serious long-term damage to our students’ learning and to the university’s reputation.” The momentum around labor organizing is not just picking up on campus. Workers are fighting for better conditions across industries, from corporations like Amazon and Starbucks to smaller, local companies like tortillerías. We talk to Jeff Schuhrke, a labor historian and professor at UIC, about the importance of this moment. Schuhrke also did his graduate work at the university and was once part of the Graduate Employees' Organization that’s on strike.
Some good news:
Zine Club Chicago Online: Poetry Zines Edition
Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago
Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm
Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Chicago and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Why Are More Young People Moving to Chicago? Plus, How To Recycle Your Electronics
While cleanup at Grant Park is ongoing following a massive, rain-soaked Lollapalooza, Mayor Johnson called this year’s festival “the prel...
Cook County Ups Healthcare Relief. Plus, Ariana Grande Supports ALMA Chicago
Over 200,000 Cook County residents are at risk of losing their healthcare coverage by 2028. In response, Cook County is planning to spend...
Why It’s Totally Worth Visiting Every Chicago Neighborhood
Today we’re talking with Chicagoans who have made it their mini-mission to visit every community area. And they have all taken very diffe...
School Board Passes Amended Budget. Plus, Vote on Park Improvements
Last week, Chicago’s school board voted 11-7 to pass an amended $10 billion budget. To avoid hundreds of layoffs, the board budgeted for...
New Mayoral Candidates, More Grocery Closures, and Chicago’s Rainy Summer
On Tuesday, candidates hoping to get on February’s ballot were able to start gathering nominating petitions. That includes folks who want...
Your Guide to August 2026 in Chicago
August in Chicago is packed with reasons to visit all corners of the city, including the Bud Billiken Parade, Northalsted Market Days, th...
CPS Budget Woes, Chi's Best Chicken Wings, and the Esteem Awards
The Board of Education is scheduled to vote tomorrow on a Chicago Public Schools budget plan that would lay off 760 teachers and 801 teac...
Chicago Renter Protections, Edgewater Restricts E-Scooters, and Lollapalooza Weekend
Right now, Chicago’s City Council is weighing exactly how to update the city’s 40-year-old Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance. The...
Why Chicagoans Feel Like Crime Is Up. Plus, Archdiocese Sues Accusers
A public opinion poll from the University of Chicago indicates many Chicagoans feel like violent crime rates are rising even though the d...
Can Chicago Save Save-A-Lot Stores? Plus, Safety Net Hospitals Are Struggling
Seven Save-A-Lot grocery stores across the South and West Sides could close their doors as early as Saturday if Yellow Banana, the compan...