Possible Chicago Area Funeral Home Strike|YourFuneralGuy

There is a possibility of a funeral home strike in the Chicago area against SCI(Service Corporation International  the World’s largest Funeral and Cemetery Corporation.

There has never been a  funeral  home strike in the Chicago Area. But now because of some strange demands by NYSE:SCI It may happen. Teamsters Local 727 is negotiating with SCI, Service Corporation International.

Snippet from their recent Article:

Dignity is the Service Corporation International Logo for the SCI Funeral Home

SCI wants to freeze or cut wages — and exit the union pension fund — while the union side wants a 6 percent salary bump the first year of a two-year deal, and a continuation of the pension, said Teamsters spokeswoman Maggie Jenkins. The contract now ending included wage freezes and cuts, she added.

“At this point we’re really hoping we can get this settled; obviously we have to be aware that a strike could be possible, but we’re doing everything we can to get this settled before it comes to that, because no one wants that,” Jenkins said.

Negotiating sessions are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, she said….

SCI’s corporate web site describes the firm as “North America’s largest single provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services.”

The company runs funeral homes from Oak Lawn to Oakbrook Terrace to Wilmette — with well-known names that include Blake-Lamb, Piser and William H. Scott — and Local 727 represents several dozen employees at the facilities, according to the Teamsters.-via funeral home news

The complete disregard for others, employees and customers at Service Corporation International Has been well covered at this blog. The many and often horrific SCI Funeral Scandals have been reported. This type of  negotiating behavior is total expected From Service Corporation Interrnational.

Funeral Industry|Funeral News|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

This blog post is the opinion of your funeral guy who has had extensive experience and researched  Service Corporation International, NYSE SCI since September 2003.

This includes recent experience with a local SCI cemetery

NEWS:Hynes Knew about Burr Oak Grave desecration +”Silvy Cotton” in 2003|Your Funeral Guy

HYNES KNEW

It is being reported that State of Illinois Comptroller-Dan HYNES- knew about the Grave Desecrations at Burr Oak Cemetery in 2003.

Evidently Hyne’s Office became aware of Grave Desecration’s at Burr Oak, and his office  contacted  Silvy Cotton the then 03 Manager of Burr Oak Cemetery

This has been reported by the Capitol Fax Blog and ABC News.

IS THIS THE SMOKING GUN IN THE RACE FOR

ILLINOIS GOVERNOR?

CLICK HERE FOR AN ABC VIDEO REPORT.

I reported the  Silvy Cotton  part of the story on this blog that Cotton was involved with the Burr Oak Cemetery desecration in that she hired the arrested  2009 manager at Burr Oak Cemetery. I also stated she was involved in the Deborah Kellom funeral home Scam in St. Louis that took place at another Perpetua  Facillity with a 2009 conviction.

The source of the blog post came from one individual in St.Louis who wished to remain anonymous. THE OTHER SOURCE  WAS FROM THE CHICAGO AREA WITH A LOVED ONE AT BURR OAK-anonymous.. Other sources in St Louis, and CHICAGO would not confirm or deny a Silvy Cotton connection to Kellom and Wade Funeral Home or Burr Oak Cemetery.

When threatened by Silvy Edmomds Cotton  i retracted the blog because I had 2 sources, that would not back up my Statements. I deleted the post. Here is my Email Exchange with  Silvy Cotton,

Correction Demanded

yourfuneralguy@yahoo.com

From:	“SLIVY@xxx.com” <SLIVY@xxx.com> … View Contact

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Google Blogs Alert for: Debora Kellom

Burr Oak Cemetery Desecration Defendants plead Not Guilty … By yourfuneralguy DefendantCarolyn Towns was originally hired by Silvy Edmonds Cotton, Pereptua Inc. who also hired Deborah Kellom of the Wade Funeral Home Perpetua Scandal. Silvy Edmonds Cotton is a party to the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal because she is … YourFuneralGuy – https://yourfuneralguy.wordpress.com/ Mr. Burkhardt, Your Blog incorrectly states that I hired Debora Kellom and that I am still apart of the Burr Oak/ Perpetua Management. Neither of these statements is true.  I have not been a part of the Perpeuta Management team since January 2004.  I demand that you correct those statements and will monitor any such future claims.  If these incorrect statements persist, I will consider legal action. Sincerely, Slivy Edmonds Cotton Re: Correction Demanded … From: Robert Burkhardt <yourfuneralguy@yahoo.com>  … Add to Contacts To: SLIVY@xxx.com Hello The Reference in question has been deleted even though there are 2 sources that state otherwise. If there is a chance it is not true it gets deleted..Always. Joshua Slocum is involved here-that always calls for questions. Were you a part of Portico LLM Enterprises? Or are they suing you? What was your connection to Burr Oak? CedarPark? You are named in the class action Lawsuit-Burr Oak Cemetery Why? I will continue to follow the money in this horrific situation and determine beyond question who is involved. Reports show Slivy Edmonds Cotton, who remains listed under Perpetua management, and Portico LLM Enterprises took over the Pet Cemetery of Tucson in 2008. Portico sued the former owner this summer, alleging fraud and misconduct, including selling headstones that were not provided and breaking into Portico offices to delete files. At Perpetua, Edmonds Cotton oversaw Cedar Park, 12540 S. Halsted St. She told the Daily Southtown in 2000 she was inspired by Cedar Park’s uniqueness and beauty.——-Daily Southtown. http://www.southtownstar.com/burr-oak/1723194,081909perpetua.article NOW I BELIEVED MY SOURCES AND ALWAYS THOUGHT SILVY COTTON WAS A KEY FIGURE IN THE BURR OAK CEMETERY HORROR(SCANDAL) FUNERAL INDUSTRY |FUNERAL NEWS BLOG BY YOUR FUNERAL GUY It is true that Comptroller DAN  HYNES only had the authority to regulate money-BUT WHY DID HE NOT TURN IT OVER TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN 2003? Memos and emails obtained by the I-Team reveal that top officials in the Illinois comptroller’s office knew in 2003 there was a problem with unearthed human remains at Burr Oak. And according to a confidential five-page report written by Burr Oak’s CEO in 2003, cemetery officials had reason to believe the grave-selling scandal had already started. via abclocal.go.com E Mails original to this post from your funeral guy Pat Quinn told ABC7 Friday night that Hynes needs to come clean on what he knew about Burr Oaks and when he knew it. via abclocal.go.com

Burr Oak Cemetery No Longer a Crime Scene-YourFuneralGuy

The latest news in the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal is that it is no longer a crime scene. This is according to the Cook County Sheriff”s website. The cemetery has been turned over to the Court Receiver. “BURR OAK CEMETERY WILL NOT BE REOPENED AT THIS TIME”

There is enough evidence gathered for prosecution. The Sheriff sees no need to excavate the cemetery for months or years.

As mentioned in the previous post the recovered bones will not undergo DNA testing. The investigation will continue off site.

From the Press Page at the Cook County Sheriffs Website.

“The turning over of day-to-day operations to the receiver is a step towards allowing the cemetery to conduct normal business,” Dart said.  “I want to thank the public for their patience during the time we were forced to close the cemetery to process the crime scenes and ask for their continued patience while Mr. Szabelski continues to work towards re-opening Burr Oak.  I hope that everything that has been done will help ease the pain of those with loved ones buried here and allow them to finally have some closure in this matter.”

Community Members have come together to form the Chicago Burr Oak  Cemetery Historical Society. They are working together to find a fan appropriate memorial for the bones unearthed at Burr Oak Cemetery.

Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal|For some no answers-

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy.

Burr Oak cemetery pic from Dallas News.

Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal|Searchable Website link-yourfuneralguy

The Cook County Sheriff has announced a searchable website for Headstones at Burr Oak Cemetery

The Cook  County Sheriff has announced that there is a searchable  website(url) available for victims of the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal. This is a beginning to helping families with their grief.

This is a start to helping families with their grief. Right now there is a limited list of headstones to be searched. Families can begin searching for there loved ones without making a trip to the cemetery. Families can go there now and search pictures of headstones, and look for grave locations.

Here is the link URL:www.burroak.net,

The Cook County Sheriff needs to be complemented for making this available quickly.

Snippet from www.nbcchicago.com

“The new site, http://www.burroak.net, launched with a partial list of the headstones affected. The department hopes to have a completed list of headstones within two weeks. Once completed, the site will also include an option to notify a detective if a headstone is missing.”

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

House Panel to Propose Federal Cemetery Legislation-YourfuneralGuy

A US House Panel will propose National Cemetery Legislation

The  US House subcommittee( Panel) meeting in response to the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal stated that they will propose National Cemetery Legislation. The subcommittee met in the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago.

Here is a brief summary of what happened.

1. The Comptroller of the State of Illinois Dan Hynes stated that cemetery law is inconsistent in the State. Right now the Comptroller only regulates financial matters(including pre need contracts)

2. Joshua Slocum the head of The (FCA) Funeral Consumers Alliance stated that Cemetery Regulation is Inconsistent across the United States of America.. and that there needs to be clear Rules. Slocum and the FCA are clear cut advocates for cemetery and Funeral Reform reform.

3. US Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. Stated that cemetery plots should be deeded. That would eliminate future Burr Oak Cemetery Scandals. This is an excellent proposal.

4. The Reverend Jesse Jackson stated that cemeteries should provide online plot information.

The United States Congress Congressional Subcommittee Was Formed By Congressman Bobby Rush.

Opposition is expected from SCI (Service Corporation International ) and STEI (Stewart Enterprises International) The two largest funeral corporations that hold  also own a significant number of cemeteries.

Generally different regulations exist for religious, private and city cemeteries.

Odds are legislation would lower the average cost of a funeral.

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy.

Source Chicago Tribune

MORE INFO:

Bobby Rush to propose Cemetery Legislation