Chicago Park District Workers Reach Contract Deal With City

As Chicago Public Schools teachers and support staff inch closer to a strike Thursday, another union has reached a contract agreement with the city.

After eight months of negotiations, Chicago Park District workers arrived at a deal with the city late Tuesday.

Service Employees International Union Local 73 Executive Vice President Jeffrey Howard said under that deal workers will get substantial increases in pay and benefits.

Mayor Lightfoot says employees will get a 14 percent pay raise over the four and a half year run of the contract. 

This agreement averts what could have been a second walkout on the day Chicago public school teachers are expected to go on strike.