Fed up Chicago firefighters union threatening to shut down DNC setup with protest

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The Chicago firefighters union has been denied a permit for a protest near the United Center during the Democratic National Convention. Now, it's considering other options.

Chicago Firefighters Union- Local 2 President Pat Cleary said it's clear why the permit was denied.

“They don’t want us to protest,” Cleary said. “They don’t want to be embarrassed.”

They were offered to be in the general protest area in Union Park.

No thanks, Cleary said. Now, he wants Madison Street over the Kennedy Expressway.

“I’m also considering protesting outside the United Center sometime very soon, and I’m going to call on my CFL brothers and AFL-CIO brothers to stop construction at the United Center,” Cleary said.

The firefighters have gone three years without a contract.

They're fighting for pay raises, more ambulances and more paramedics. Cleary said the paramedics are forced to work overtime, and they’re exhausted.

“We worked through COVID while everyone stayed home,” said Cleary. “We all went to the firehouse, day after day after day. We all got COVID because of that, and they still won’t give us a pay raise, they still won’t give us a contract.”

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