Kelly Joiner’s no-pay status

My sisters and I are reaching out to anyone who would be willing to help the most hardworking and compassionate person we know, our mom. She has fully dedicated her life to providing for us, and now we are hoping (with your help) to provide for her. After 23 years of full-time employment with the city of Chicago, her religious exemption was denied for the COVID-19 vaccination and has been put on suspension since October 18, 2021. She was put on no-pay status, which is a disciplinary action that was ordered by the city but cannot be found in the union or city contract. While on suspension, the city of Chicago does not permit her to obtain alternative employment, receive unemployment benefits, and is not allowed to retrieve any of her pension-if at all! The city of Chicago is threatening to steal her pension from her, leaving her with 23 years working as a concrete laborer and having nothing to show for it. Despite risking her safety and health as an essential worker throughout the pandemic and the many riots that occurred throughout the city, she is now without benefits and was never compensated with any hazardous pay. The city of Chicago and the union have completely turned their backs on her and left her financially strained. Her goal of eventually having a modest retirement is possibly gone.

My sisters and I stand tall with our mother and anyone fighting the injustice that has gone on for far too long in the city of Chicago. We are not the type of family to ever ask for money. My sisters and I have managed to financially support our mother’s brave decision to fight this ongoing, uphill battle with the city. After having my first child I am struggling to do it alone. We would like to continue supporting her and decided to publicly share our mother’s story to get any additional help. We are posting this to hopefully shed light on other departments in the city of Chicago that are not getting the media coverage they deserve. Not only would you be helping us financially, but it would also show our mother that her hard work and dedication to the city have not gone unnoticed. She is not alone (even though she may feel like it). Even if a donation cannot be made, please support our mother by helping us share her story.

Respectfully,

Jessica, Kerry, Morgan