Workers at two Chicago Starbucks have joined the coffee chain's national labor movement by voting to unionize.

• They're just the latest in a string of newly unionized workplaces at some of the city's most esteemed organizations.

Why it matters: In the town that created the modern-day labor movement, many historically progressive institutions are now in high-profile labor disputes that don't fit their public images, including:

🎤 The Second City: Workers at the liberal comedy theater already have unions for actors and technicians, but teachers voted to unionize in 2021. Negotiations with the new owners have dragged on for months.

🎨 School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Just this month, nontenured faculty started a push to unionize after tenured teachers organized in January.

📺 PBS station WTTW: Broadcast technicians walked out after negotiations failed at the public media company, and a new contract was approved after a 23-day strike.

🎼 Old Town School of Folk Music: Teachers gathered in Lincoln Square last week to sing and drum up support for contract negotiations that started in 2019.

• "We marched to give moral support to our bargaining team," teacher Bill Brickey tells Axios.
• "I've received four raises in 30 years."

What they're saying: "When we speak of an institution’s 'progressive' values, it's important to examine how they treat their employees," University of Illinois labor professor Robert Bruno tells Axios. "If employment relations are hostile, the institution's 'progressive' public face is just branding."

Of note: While historically the Chicago Tribune has not been liberal — in fact, it remained proudly union-free for more than a century — the paper has been negotiating a first contract with its recently formed union for over three years.

The intrigue: Bruno sees these long contract disputes as unusual and a bad sign for the unions.

• "It's well outside the norm. Delay is an employer tactic. The longer the time to reach a deal, the less likely the union is to survive and the employees to work under a labor agreement."

Despite raising Cook County's COVID-19 risk into the orange, "high level" zone late last week, health officials aren't mandating any behavior changes.

Why it matters: Lack of official mandates makes it harder for businesses to keep staff and vulnerable patrons safe from strains circulating in the community.

Between the lines: While stopping short of reimposing an indoor mask mandate in her weekly address, health commissioner Allison Arwady said she "strongly recommend[s]" indoor masking.

• A mandate may be reinstated when COVID patients make up more than 10% of hospitalizations, she said.
• COVID hospitalizations are currently 4%.

State of play: The CDC recommends folks who aren't up to date on vaccines quarantine for five days after visiting a high-risk area. So what do they do if they live in one?

• "We do not expect [them] to quarantine at home while we’re at the high level," a health department representative tells Axios, but the department urges Chicagoans to take the usual precautions: masking, vaccinating and avoiding crowds.

⚖️ It turns out we don't actually have the toughest gun laws in the nation, even after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called out Chicago for strict gun laws that don't work. (Tribune)

🎶 San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler won't stand for the national anthem in protest of guns and school shootings, which White Sox manager Tony La Russa calls "not appropriate." (CNN)

🚓 The police have charged a person with setting the "Walking Man" on fire last week on Lower Wabash. (Sun-Times)

🦁 Lincoln Park Zoo has a new lion cub! Pilipili is a 10-week-old male and the first cub at the zoo in 20 years. (Block Club)

⚾ Sox star Tim Anderson is on the injured list after injuring his groin Sunday. Also, Cubs lose Seiya Suzuki to a sprained finger. (NBC Sports)

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After Justin picked Kaufman's Deli in Skokie and Monica picked Taste of New York in Wrigleyville, we asked for your bagel suggestions.

• As always, you came through:

John M.: "Best bagels are at New York Bagel and Bialy on Touhy in Lincolnwood. The store is open literally 24/7, 365 days a year. Going there at midnight on Tuesday, for example, is just a part of the experience."

• Travis G., Monica H., Jerry S., John K., John O., Robert G., Stephanie G. and Garry J. agree.

Nathan G.: "My wife has been basically living off of bagels and lox from Once Upon a Bagel in Highland Park since she was young. I wasn’t a big fan of bagels until she forced me to try them."

Jude B.: "My wife and I found R&A Bread Bakers while out on a walk recently. We now make sure that our walks intersect with R&A Bakers every time so we can enjoy a delicious, fresh bagel."

More reader suggestions.

👋🏻 Hi, Monica here. I recently tried a variation on the classic char dog, cheese fries and shake at Goose Island.

The twist: In collaboration with the Wiener's Circle, Goose Island Brewhouse is offering a burger version of a char dog using a poppyseed brioche bun and all the usual hot dog toppings on a ground beef patty.

• The liquidy cheese is infused with 312 beer, and the chocolate shake is spiked with Bourbon County Stout.

But hurry: The combo is only available in May, so today is the last day to try.

• Sorry, the month got away from us!

Where's Justin this week? Here's a hint:

• On a street renamed for royalty
• It honors Chicagoans who served
• A street corner from the renaissance
• It recently got refurbed

📬 Reply with the right answer and you could win some Axios swag!