Chicago Public Schools and the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 399 announced a new three-year labor agreement between the Union and CPS’s facility management companies that ensures stable, high-quality support for district facilities and offers additional professional learning opportunities and benefit increases for engineers. The agreement with Local 399 is retroactive to July 1, 2020, and extends through June 30, 2023. More than 500 building engineers, who are employed by district contractors Aramark and Sodexo — are responsible for maintaining school buildings and ensuring the proper functioning of mechanical systems. Key components include:

Advanced Training Opportunities: To ensure district engineers have the training needed to ensure CPS schools are safe and properly maintained, the agreement supports additional professional learning opportunities offered through Local 399, the Aramark Facilities Center of Excellence, and Triton College’s Facilities Engineering Technology A.A.S.

Additional Paid Time off and Holidays: Beginning July 1, 2021, engineers will receive two additional personal days and two additional holidays.