Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha

The Chicago Workers’ Collaborative is a coalition of faith and community-based organizations which seeks to raise the standards for low-wage workers in the state of Illinois. The Collaborative arises from the merger of two organizations: the Chicago Area Workers’ Center (founded in 2000) and the Day Laborer Collaboration (founded in 2002). Day Laborers from temporary staffing agencies drive our organization both as staff and volunteer members.

A Labor Standards Agreement has been successfully negotiated with Impact Staffing, Inc. The Labor Agreement may be the first of its kind in the United States. Covering 700 workers, it includes guarantees on worker safety and no-discrimination. It also has a formal Dispute Resolution process presided over by neutral parties to resolve employee grievances. Impact Staffing offers vacation days and holidays to its employees, seeks to maintain employees on permanent tickets so they have income stability, and does not charge conversion fees to companies who wish to permanently hire temp employees after 480 hours of work.

The income stability alone will mean that Impact employees could earn an average of $3,000 more income per year than day laborers working at other agencies.

The Chicago Workers’ Collaborative appeals to all Illinois businesses who need temporary workers to contract staffing services such as Impact who have can provide assurances that their employees’ rights are respected.

Coalition partners are St. Pius V Parish, Erie Neighborhood House, South Austin Coalition and the Center for Labor and Community Research.