Cook County Forest Preserve Strike Ends After 16 Days

COOK COUNTY, IL — A 16-day strike involving workers who maintain the Forest Preserves of Cook County is over after union members approved a revised contract agreement Wednesday.

Members of Teamsters Local 700 voted Sept. 2 to ratify the Forest Preserves' latest proposal, sending about 230 truck drivers, mechanics, skilled trades workers and other employees back to work Thursday.

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The workers went on strike Aug. 17 following months of negotiations over wages, overtime, scheduling and other working conditions. Local 700 members had previously voted July 31 to authorize a strike after rejecting the district's contract offer.

The agreement extends the existing contract through Dec. 31, 2027.

RELATED: Cook County Forest Preserves To Remain Open During Teamsters Strike

Under the deal, workers receive a 2 percent raise retroactive to January 2026, another 2 percent increase in July 2026 and a 4 percent raise in July 2027.

Full-time employees will also receive a one-time $2,500 payment, while seasonal employees will receive $1,250.

The agreement includes paid lunches and breaks, along with changes involving overtime rules, scheduling notifications, shift assignment choices and weekend work.

"This agreement addresses issues raised by Local 700 while allowing the Forest Preserves to remain on a sustainable fiscal path," Forest Preserves General Superintendent Adam Bianchi said in a statement. "We are eager to have all our dedicated employees together again to meet our shared mission."

Local 700 President Ramon Williams said the agreement makes gains on wages and working conditions after members spent more than two weeks on strike.

"Our members did not want a strike, they wanted to be treated like the skilled public employees they are," Williams said.

Union members perform work throughout the preserve system, including clearing roads, maintaining vehicles and equipment, collecting trash, conducting prescribed burns and keeping trails and picnic groves usable.

Before the walkout, the union argued its members were paid less than employees performing similar jobs at other public agencies and raised concerns about how quickly workers progressed through the Forest Preserves' pay scale. The district, meanwhile, maintained its compensation proposal was competitive while allowing it to remain financially sustainable.

The Forest Preserves remained open throughout the strike. Trails, campgrounds, nature centers, picnic groves, golf courses, boating centers and other facilities continued operating, though officials had said any necessary changes would prioritize public safety and ecological health.

The Forest Preserves encompass more than 70,000 acres across Cook County.

RELATED: Cook County Forest Preserve Workers Authorize Strike