Blue Island custodial staff, union tell council they face discrimination, understaffing and terminations

Multiple custodial employees for District 130 and a union representative told the Blue Island City Council on Sept. 24 that they have faced discrimination, discipline and terminations under the district’s recent administration and asked the council to intervene.

That testimony matters because the custodial staff say staffing and training gaps affect school cleanliness and student safety, and because the union says multiple terminations are already leading to arbitrations and lawsuits.

During the council’s public-comment period, employees recounted incidents they said show hostile treatment by supervisors and a refusal by district officials to bargain with or accommodate workers. Shay Marshall, director for schools municipalities division Local 73, said the district’s administration has barred staff from speaking Spanish during disciplinary or grievance hearings and has refused to allow interpreters.

"They are not allowed to speak in Spanish. They are not allowed to have interpreters present," Marshall said. Marshall also named what she called "Colin McKay, the superintendent," as central to the complaints and said the union has sought bargaining sessions with the district that were repeatedly canceled.

Several workers described what they said were unfair write-ups and terminations. Ernesto Esparza, who said he worked for the district for 18 years, said managers disciplined him after he used personal protective equipment he bought because the district would not provide it; he said he was later fired.

"I was let go," Esparza said, and added the district had taken disciplinary actions against 10 or more employees in the past year, leading to arbitrations and lawsuits.

Other custodians described understaffing and safety concerns. Edna Athena, who said she has worked as a custodian for more than 10 years, told the council, "It is not right that we are denied the ability to speak Spanish." Patricia, who said she has 13 years on the job, said workers should be able to defend themselves in Spanish and asked the council for respect and workplace dignity.

Maria Corona, who said she worked for the district for 19 years, told the council she was fired "for completely unjustified reasons" and described repeated public humiliation by school-site administrators.

Maria Martinez, who said she has worked four years at District 130, quoted a district official saying custodial work is "easy," and challenged that characterization: "Doctor McKay said that our job is easy. I will gladly tell doctor McKay to step down and do our job for at least a week and see if it's easy."

Marshall urged council members to intervene and investigate, saying the issues "impact constituents in every one of your wards." She also said the district had hired a public relations firm rather than addressing staffing and training concerns the union raised.

The comments were delivered during the public-comment portion of the council meeting; no formal action or vote on the school district was taken by the council during the meeting. Several aldermen thanked the speakers and expressed sympathy; one alderman said he would welcome involvement and another said he hoped for a swift resolution.

Ending: The council did not announce any specific follow-up steps at the meeting. Union representatives and custodial staff asked aldermen to get involved; the transcript shows the council received the comments but took no formal vote or motion related to District 130 during the session.