HR0936 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0936 LRB101 23045 LAW 74170 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency that has resulted in 300,000 cases and nearly 10,000 deaths in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, In the early stages of the pandemic, the Cook County Department of Corrections (CCDOC) was considered the largest cluster of COVID-19 infections in the country; and

WHEREAS, At one point, 1 in 6 COVID-19 cases in Illinois could be traced back to the Cook County Jail; and

WHEREAS, While some Cook County workers have jobs that can be worked from home, CCDOC workers represented by Teamsters Local 700 have responsibilities that require them to work as frontline employees outside their homes and have jobs that require them to be in public and to interact with COVID-19 positive individuals; and

WHEREAS, The members of Teamsters Local 700 at CCDOC risk their lives and the health and safety of their families to provide Cook County residents with safe, clean, efficient, and effective services; and

WHEREAS, CCDOC officers on the front line of the pandemic are unable to practice social distancing because of the confined conditions at the jail; and

WHEREAS, Corrections officers' positions were identified months ago by their essential nature, and CCDOC officers have continued to provide critical services during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, CCDOC officers represented by Teamsters Local 700 put themselves in harm's way on a daily basis, many working 16-hour days without hazard pay; and

WHEREAS, CCDOC officers are 10 times more likely to contract COVID-19 than the average American; and

WHEREAS, More than 500 CCDOC officers have contracted COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, Six CCDOC officers represented by Teamsters Local 700 and one Court Services Deputy lost their lives due to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, Sheila Rivera, a corrections officer since 2012, lost her life to COVID-19; she leaves behind a husband and a 16-year-old son; and

WHEREAS, Antoine Stewart, a corrections officer since 2010 and a resident of Crestwood, lost his life to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, Antoine Jones, a corrections officer since 2002 and a South Side resident and grandfather of seven, lost his life to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, Jose Pedro Marquez, a corrections officer since 2004 and a resident of Berwyn, lost his life to COVID-19; he leaves behind five children and three grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Richard O'Brien, a Cook County Sheriff's Deputy for 25 years, lost his life to COVID-19; he leaves behind a wife and three children; and

WHEREAS, Jason Bobzin, a corrections officer since 2005 and a resident of Countryside, passed away after completing his shift at the jail; he leaves behind three children and six grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Richard Santiago, a 31-year-old corrections officer and a resident of Elmwood Park, passed away due to COVID-19; he leaves behind his fiancé, Priscilla, and his son, Janius; and

WHEREAS, These members lost their lives while providing essential public safety services; and

WHEREAS, The 3,000 CCDOC officers represented by Teamsters Local 700 continue to risk their lives in service to the public; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the sacrifices made by Sheila Rivera, Antoine Stewart, Antoine Jones, Jose Pedro Marquez, Richard O'Brien, Jason Bobzin, and Richard Santiago, and all of the men and women of the Cook County Department of Corrections represented by Teamsters Local 700; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Cook County to provide hazard pay to all corrections officers, in recognition of their continued public service under dangerous circumstances; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the families of Sheila Rivera, Antoine Stewart, Antoine Jones, Jose Pedro Marquez, Richard O'Brien, Jason Bobzin, and Richard Santiago and to Teamsters Local 700.