Possible Chicago parking strike could impact airports, sporting events and more

Now that Halloween is almost over, a busy holiday season downtown is approaching. But drivers may run into issues with parking. The Chicago Tribune reported on Friday more than 1,000 parking employees had voted to authorize a strike, though a walkout was not certain. Teamsters Local 727, which represents workers at some of the busiest parking garages in the city, warned of potential disruptions and delays if workers go on strike. That included parking at O’Hare and Midway airports, major hotels and hospitals across the city, as well as Bulls and Bears games. The Teamsters said roughly 12,000 of their members are employed across 15 parking companies, and those employers belong to the Chicago Parking Association. Their current collective bargaining agreement expires on Saturday. According to the Tribune, a strike could start as soon as Sunday after more than 98% of members voted to authorize one. The union accuses the parking operators of violating labor laws, includ