In Chicago, over 4,800 hospital and university workers with the University of Illinois hospital system are in the third day of a strike demanding safe staffing levels, better pay and more personal protective equipment amid the pandemic. The unionized workers have been working without a contract for the past year. This is Dian Palmer, president of SEIU Local 73.

Dian Palmer: “We’re going to keep fighting until we get everything that we deserve. UIC counted us out, thought it couldn’t be done. But we’re proving them wrong every day. And we’re going to fight to make sure people get better wages, better working conditions, safe staffing, and PPEs for everyone.”