100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB0797

 

Introduced , by Rep. Joe Sosnowski

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
See Index

    Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Provides that if a unit of local government, as an employer, and public employees provide for arbitration of impasses, the employer's financial ability to fund the proposals based on existing available resources shall be given primary consideration, provided that such ability is not predicated on an assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are available or that the employer may or will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase existing sources of revenue. Provides that in interest arbitration for security employee, peace officer, and fire fighter disputes, the arbitration panel shall take the employer's financial ability to fund the proposals based on existing available resources as the primary consideration, provided that such ability is not predicated on an assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are available or that the employer may or will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase existing sources of revenue (currently the interests and welfare of the public and the financial ability of the unit of government to meet those goals). Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. With respect to collective bargaining between an educational employer (other than the Chicago school district) and an exclusive representative of its employees, provides that when making wage and benefit determinations during interest arbitration, the employer's financial ability to fund the proposals based on existing available resources shall be given primary consideration, provided that such ability is not predicated on an assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are available or that the employer may or will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase existing sources of revenue.


LRB100 07335 RJF 17398 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB0797LRB100 07335 RJF 17398 b

1    AN ACT concerning government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Public Labor Relations Act is
5amended by changing Sections 7 and 14 as follows:
 
6    (5 ILCS 315/7)  (from Ch. 48, par. 1607)
7    Sec. 7. Duty to bargain. A public employer and the
8exclusive representative have the authority and the duty to
9bargain collectively set forth in this Section.
10    For the purposes of this Act, "to bargain collectively"
11means the performance of the mutual obligation of the public
12employer or his designated representative and the
13representative of the public employees to meet at reasonable
14times, including meetings in advance of the budget-making
15process, and to negotiate in good faith with respect to wages,
16hours, and other conditions of employment, not excluded by
17Section 4 of this Act, or the negotiation of an agreement, or
18any question arising thereunder and the execution of a written
19contract incorporating any agreement reached if requested by
20either party, but such obligation does not compel either party
21to agree to a proposal or require the making of a concession.
22    The duty "to bargain collectively" shall also include an
23obligation to negotiate over any matter with respect to wages,

 

 

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1hours and other conditions of employment, not specifically
2provided for in any other law or not specifically in violation
3of the provisions of any law. If any other law pertains, in
4part, to a matter affecting the wages, hours and other
5conditions of employment, such other law shall not be construed
6as limiting the duty "to bargain collectively" and to enter
7into collective bargaining agreements containing clauses which
8either supplement, implement, or relate to the effect of such
9provisions in other laws.
10    The duty "to bargain collectively" shall also include
11negotiations as to the terms of a collective bargaining
12agreement. The parties may, by mutual agreement, provide for
13arbitration of impasses resulting from their inability to agree
14upon wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment to be
15included in a collective bargaining agreement. Such
16arbitration provisions shall be subject to the Illinois
17"Uniform Arbitration Act" unless agreed by the parties. If a
18unit of local government, as an employer, and public employees
19provide for arbitration of impasses, the employer's financial
20ability to fund the proposals based on existing available
21resources shall be given primary consideration, provided that
22such ability is not predicated on an assumption that lines of
23credit or reserve funds are available or that the employer may
24or will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase
25existing sources of revenue.
26    The duty "to bargain collectively" shall also mean that no

 

 

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1party to a collective bargaining contract shall terminate or
2modify such contract, unless the party desiring such
3termination or modification:
4        (1) serves a written notice upon the other party to the
5    contract of the proposed termination or modification 60
6    days prior to the expiration date thereof, or in the event
7    such contract contains no expiration date, 60 days prior to
8    the time it is proposed to make such termination or
9    modification;
10        (2) offers to meet and confer with the other party for
11    the purpose of negotiating a new contract or a contract
12    containing the proposed modifications;
13        (3) notifies the Board within 30 days after such notice
14    of the existence of a dispute, provided no agreement has
15    been reached by that time; and
16        (4) continues in full force and effect, without
17    resorting to strike or lockout, all the terms and
18    conditions of the existing contract for a period of 60 days
19    after such notice is given to the other party or until the
20    expiration date of such contract, whichever occurs later.
21    The duties imposed upon employers, employees and labor
22organizations by paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) shall become
23inapplicable upon an intervening certification of the Board,
24under which the labor organization, which is a party to the
25contract, has been superseded as or ceased to be the exclusive
26representative of the employees pursuant to the provisions of

 

 

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1subsection (a) of Section 9, and the duties so imposed shall
2not be construed as requiring either party to discuss or agree
3to any modification of the terms and conditions contained in a
4contract for a fixed period, if such modification is to become
5effective before such terms and conditions can be reopened
6under the provisions of the contract.
7    Collective bargaining for home care and home health workers
8who function as personal assistants and individual maintenance
9home health workers under the Home Services Program shall be
10limited to the terms and conditions of employment under the
11State's control, as defined in Public Act 93-204 or this
12amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, as applicable.
13    Collective bargaining for child and day care home providers
14under the child care assistance program shall be limited to the
15terms and conditions of employment under the State's control,
16as defined in this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.
17    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section,
18whenever collective bargaining is for the purpose of
19establishing an initial agreement following original
20certification of units with fewer than 35 employees, with
21respect to public employees other than peace officers, fire
22fighters, and security employees, the following apply:
23        (1) Not later than 10 days after receiving a written
24    request for collective bargaining from a labor
25    organization that has been newly certified as a
26    representative as defined in Section 6(c), or within such

 

 

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1    further period as the parties agree upon, the parties shall
2    meet and commence to bargain collectively and shall make
3    every reasonable effort to conclude and sign a collective
4    bargaining agreement.
5        (2) If anytime after the expiration of the 90-day
6    period beginning on the date on which bargaining is
7    commenced the parties have failed to reach an agreement,
8    either party may notify the Illinois Public Labor Relations
9    Board of the existence of a dispute and request mediation
10    in accordance with the provisions of Section 14 of this
11    Act.
12        (3) If after the expiration of the 30-day period
13    beginning on the date on which mediation commenced, or such
14    additional period as the parties may agree upon, the
15    mediator is not able to bring the parties to agreement by
16    conciliation, either the exclusive representative of the
17    employees or the employer may request of the other, in
18    writing, arbitration and shall submit a copy of the request
19    to the board. Upon submission of the request for
20    arbitration, the parties shall be required to participate
21    in the impasse arbitration procedures set forth in Section
22    14 of this Act, except the right to strike shall not be
23    considered waived pursuant to Section 17 of this Act, until
24    the actual convening of the arbitration hearing.
25(Source: P.A. 97-1158, eff. 1-29-13; 98-1004, eff. 8-18-14.)
 

 

 

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1    (5 ILCS 315/14)  (from Ch. 48, par. 1614)
2    Sec. 14. Security employee, peace officer and fire fighter
3disputes.
4    (a) In the case of collective bargaining agreements
5involving units of security employees of a public employer,
6Peace Officer Units, or units of fire fighters or paramedics,
7and in the case of disputes under Section 18, unless the
8parties mutually agree to some other time limit, mediation
9shall commence 30 days prior to the expiration date of such
10agreement or at such later time as the mediation services
11chosen under subsection (b) of Section 12 can be provided to
12the parties. In the case of negotiations for an initial
13collective bargaining agreement, mediation shall commence upon
1415 days notice from either party or at such later time as the
15mediation services chosen pursuant to subsection (b) of Section
1612 can be provided to the parties. In mediation under this
17Section, if either party requests the use of mediation services
18from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the other
19party shall either join in such request or bear the additional
20cost of mediation services from another source. The mediator
21shall have a duty to keep the Board informed on the progress of
22the mediation. If any dispute has not been resolved within 15
23days after the first meeting of the parties and the mediator,
24or within such other time limit as may be mutually agreed upon
25by the parties, either the exclusive representative or employer
26may request of the other, in writing, arbitration, and shall

 

 

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1submit a copy of the request to the Board.
2    (b) Within 10 days after such a request for arbitration has
3been made, the employer shall choose a delegate and the
4employees' exclusive representative shall choose a delegate to
5a panel of arbitration as provided in this Section. The
6employer and employees shall forthwith advise the other and the
7Board of their selections.
8    (c) Within 7 days after the request of either party, the
9parties shall request a panel of impartial arbitrators from
10which they shall select the neutral chairman according to the
11procedures provided in this Section. If the parties have agreed
12to a contract that contains a grievance resolution procedure as
13provided in Section 8, the chairman shall be selected using
14their agreed contract procedure unless they mutually agree to
15another procedure. If the parties fail to notify the Board of
16their selection of neutral chairman within 7 days after receipt
17of the list of impartial arbitrators, the Board shall appoint,
18at random, a neutral chairman from the list. In the absence of
19an agreed contract procedure for selecting an impartial
20arbitrator, either party may request a panel from the Board.
21Within 7 days of the request of either party, the Board shall
22select from the Public Employees Labor Mediation Roster 7
23persons who are on the labor arbitration panels of either the
24American Arbitration Association or the Federal Mediation and
25Conciliation Service, or who are members of the National
26Academy of Arbitrators, as nominees for impartial arbitrator of

 

 

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1the arbitration panel. The parties may select an individual on
2the list provided by the Board or any other individual mutually
3agreed upon by the parties. Within 7 days following the receipt
4of the list, the parties shall notify the Board of the person
5they have selected. Unless the parties agree on an alternate
6selection procedure, they shall alternatively strike one name
7from the list provided by the Board until only one name
8remains. A coin toss shall determine which party shall strike
9the first name. If the parties fail to notify the Board in a
10timely manner of their selection for neutral chairman, the
11Board shall appoint a neutral chairman from the Illinois Public
12Employees Mediation/Arbitration Roster.
13    (d) The chairman shall call a hearing to begin within 15
14days and give reasonable notice of the time and place of the
15hearing. The hearing shall be held at the offices of the Board
16or at such other location as the Board deems appropriate. The
17chairman shall preside over the hearing and shall take
18testimony. Any oral or documentary evidence and other data
19deemed relevant by the arbitration panel may be received in
20evidence. The proceedings shall be informal. Technical rules of
21evidence shall not apply and the competency of the evidence
22shall not thereby be deemed impaired. A verbatim record of the
23proceedings shall be made and the arbitrator shall arrange for
24the necessary recording service. Transcripts may be ordered at
25the expense of the party ordering them, but the transcripts
26shall not be necessary for a decision by the arbitration panel.

 

 

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1The expense of the proceedings, including a fee for the
2chairman, shall be borne equally by each of the parties to the
3dispute. The delegates, if public officers or employees, shall
4continue on the payroll of the public employer without loss of
5pay. The hearing conducted by the arbitration panel may be
6adjourned from time to time, but unless otherwise agreed by the
7parties, shall be concluded within 30 days of the time of its
8commencement. Majority actions and rulings shall constitute
9the actions and rulings of the arbitration panel. Arbitration
10proceedings under this Section shall not be interrupted or
11terminated by reason of any unfair labor practice charge filed
12by either party at any time.
13    (e) The arbitration panel may administer oaths, require the
14attendance of witnesses, and the production of such books,
15papers, contracts, agreements and documents as may be deemed by
16it material to a just determination of the issues in dispute,
17and for such purpose may issue subpoenas. If any person refuses
18to obey a subpoena, or refuses to be sworn or to testify, or if
19any witness, party or attorney is guilty of any contempt while
20in attendance at any hearing, the arbitration panel may, or the
21attorney general if requested shall, invoke the aid of any
22circuit court within the jurisdiction in which the hearing is
23being held, which court shall issue an appropriate order. Any
24failure to obey the order may be punished by the court as
25contempt.
26    (f) At any time before the rendering of an award, the

 

 

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1chairman of the arbitration panel, if he is of the opinion that
2it would be useful or beneficial to do so, may remand the
3dispute to the parties for further collective bargaining for a
4period not to exceed 2 weeks. If the dispute is remanded for
5further collective bargaining the time provisions of this Act
6shall be extended for a time period equal to that of the
7remand. The chairman of the panel of arbitration shall notify
8the Board of the remand.
9    (g) At or before the conclusion of the hearing held
10pursuant to subsection (d), the arbitration panel shall
11identify the economic issues in dispute, and direct each of the
12parties to submit, within such time limit as the panel shall
13prescribe, to the arbitration panel and to each other its last
14offer of settlement on each economic issue. The determination
15of the arbitration panel as to the issues in dispute and as to
16which of these issues are economic shall be conclusive. The
17arbitration panel, within 30 days after the conclusion of the
18hearing, or such further additional periods to which the
19parties may agree, shall make written findings of fact and
20promulgate a written opinion and shall mail or otherwise
21deliver a true copy thereof to the parties and their
22representatives and to the Board. As to each economic issue,
23the arbitration panel shall adopt the last offer of settlement
24which, in the opinion of the arbitration panel, more nearly
25complies with the applicable factors prescribed in subsection
26(h). The findings, opinions and order as to all other issues

 

 

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1shall be based upon the applicable factors prescribed in
2subsection (h).
3    (h) Where there is no agreement between the parties, or
4where there is an agreement but the parties have begun
5negotiations or discussions looking to a new agreement or
6amendment of the existing agreement, and wage rates or other
7conditions of employment under the proposed new or amended
8agreement are in dispute, the arbitration panel shall base its
9findings, opinions and order upon the following factors, as
10applicable:
11        (1) The lawful authority of the employer.
12        (2) Stipulations of the parties.
13        (3) The employer's financial ability to fund the
14    proposals based on existing available resources shall be
15    given primary consideration, provided that such ability is
16    not predicated on an assumption that lines of credit or
17    reserve funds are available or that the employer may or
18    will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase
19    existing sources of revenue The interests and welfare of
20    the public and the financial ability of the unit of
21    government to meet those costs.
22        (4) Comparison of the wages, hours and conditions of
23    employment of the employees involved in the arbitration
24    proceeding with the wages, hours and conditions of
25    employment of other employees performing similar services
26    and with other employees generally:

 

 

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1            (A) In public employment in comparable
2        communities.
3            (B) In private employment in comparable
4        communities.
5        (5) The average consumer prices for goods and services,
6    commonly known as the cost of living.
7        (6) The overall compensation presently received by the
8    employees, including direct wage compensation, vacations,
9    holidays and other excused time, insurance and pensions,
10    medical and hospitalization benefits, the continuity and
11    stability of employment and all other benefits received.
12        (7) Changes in any of the foregoing circumstances
13    during the pendency of the arbitration proceedings.
14        (8) Such other factors, not confined to the foregoing,
15    which are normally or traditionally taken into
16    consideration in the determination of wages, hours and
17    conditions of employment through voluntary collective
18    bargaining, mediation, fact-finding, arbitration or
19    otherwise between the parties, in the public service or in
20    private employment.
21    (i) In the case of peace officers, the arbitration decision
22shall be limited to wages, hours, and conditions of employment
23(which may include residency requirements in municipalities
24with a population under 1,000,000, but those residency
25requirements shall not allow residency outside of Illinois) and
26shall not include the following: i) residency requirements in

 

 

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1municipalities with a population of at least 1,000,000; ii) the
2type of equipment, other than uniforms, issued or used; iii)
3manning; iv) the total number of employees employed by the
4department; v) mutual aid and assistance agreements to other
5units of government; and vi) the criterion pursuant to which
6force, including deadly force, can be used; provided, nothing
7herein shall preclude an arbitration decision regarding
8equipment or manning levels if such decision is based on a
9finding that the equipment or manning considerations in a
10specific work assignment involve a serious risk to the safety
11of a peace officer beyond that which is inherent in the normal
12performance of police duties. Limitation of the terms of the
13arbitration decision pursuant to this subsection shall not be
14construed to limit the factors upon which the decision may be
15based, as set forth in subsection (h).
16    In the case of fire fighter, and fire department or fire
17district paramedic matters, the arbitration decision shall be
18limited to wages, hours, and conditions of employment
19(including manning and also including residency requirements
20in municipalities with a population under 1,000,000, but those
21residency requirements shall not allow residency outside of
22Illinois) and shall not include the following matters: i)
23residency requirements in municipalities with a population of
24at least 1,000,000; ii) the type of equipment (other than
25uniforms and fire fighter turnout gear) issued or used; iii)
26the total number of employees employed by the department; iv)

 

 

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1mutual aid and assistance agreements to other units of
2government; and v) the criterion pursuant to which force,
3including deadly force, can be used; provided, however, nothing
4herein shall preclude an arbitration decision regarding
5equipment levels if such decision is based on a finding that
6the equipment considerations in a specific work assignment
7involve a serious risk to the safety of a fire fighter beyond
8that which is inherent in the normal performance of fire
9fighter duties. Limitation of the terms of the arbitration
10decision pursuant to this subsection shall not be construed to
11limit the facts upon which the decision may be based, as set
12forth in subsection (h).
13    The changes to this subsection (i) made by Public Act
1490-385 (relating to residency requirements) do not apply to
15persons who are employed by a combined department that performs
16both police and firefighting services; these persons shall be
17governed by the provisions of this subsection (i) relating to
18peace officers, as they existed before the amendment by Public
19Act 90-385.
20    To preserve historical bargaining rights, this subsection
21shall not apply to any provision of a fire fighter collective
22bargaining agreement in effect and applicable on the effective
23date of this Act; provided, however, nothing herein shall
24preclude arbitration with respect to any such provision.
25    (j) Arbitration procedures shall be deemed to be initiated
26by the filing of a letter requesting mediation as required

 

 

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1under subsection (a) of this Section. The commencement of a new
2municipal fiscal year after the initiation of arbitration
3procedures under this Act, but before the arbitration decision,
4or its enforcement, shall not be deemed to render a dispute
5moot, or to otherwise impair the jurisdiction or authority of
6the arbitration panel or its decision. Increases in rates of
7compensation awarded by the arbitration panel may be effective
8only at the start of the fiscal year next commencing after the
9date of the arbitration award. If a new fiscal year has
10commenced either since the initiation of arbitration
11procedures under this Act or since any mutually agreed
12extension of the statutorily required period of mediation under
13this Act by the parties to the labor dispute causing a delay in
14the initiation of arbitration, the foregoing limitations shall
15be inapplicable, and such awarded increases may be retroactive
16to the commencement of the fiscal year, any other statute or
17charter provisions to the contrary, notwithstanding. At any
18time the parties, by stipulation, may amend or modify an award
19of arbitration.
20    (k) Orders of the arbitration panel shall be reviewable,
21upon appropriate petition by either the public employer or the
22exclusive bargaining representative, by the circuit court for
23the county in which the dispute arose or in which a majority of
24the affected employees reside, but only for reasons that the
25arbitration panel was without or exceeded its statutory
26authority; the order is arbitrary, or capricious; or the order

 

 

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1was procured by fraud, collusion or other similar and unlawful
2means. Such petitions for review must be filed with the
3appropriate circuit court within 90 days following the issuance
4of the arbitration order. The pendency of such proceeding for
5review shall not automatically stay the order of the
6arbitration panel. The party against whom the final decision of
7any such court shall be adverse, if such court finds such
8appeal or petition to be frivolous, shall pay reasonable
9attorneys' fees and costs to the successful party as determined
10by said court in its discretion. If said court's decision
11affirms the award of money, such award, if retroactive, shall
12bear interest at the rate of 12 percent per annum from the
13effective retroactive date.
14    (l) During the pendency of proceedings before the
15arbitration panel, existing wages, hours, and other conditions
16of employment shall not be changed by action of either party
17without the consent of the other but a party may so consent
18without prejudice to his rights or position under this Act. The
19proceedings are deemed to be pending before the arbitration
20panel upon the initiation of arbitration procedures under this
21Act.
22    (m) Security officers of public employers, and Peace
23Officers, Fire Fighters and fire department and fire protection
24district paramedics, covered by this Section may not withhold
25services, nor may public employers lock out or prevent such
26employees from performing services at any time.

 

 

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1    (n) All of the terms decided upon by the arbitration panel
2shall be included in an agreement to be submitted to the public
3employer's governing body for ratification and adoption by law,
4ordinance or the equivalent appropriate means.
5    The governing body shall review each term decided by the
6arbitration panel. If the governing body fails to reject one or
7more terms of the arbitration panel's decision by a 3/5 vote of
8those duly elected and qualified members of the governing body,
9within 20 days of issuance, or in the case of firefighters
10employed by a state university, at the next regularly scheduled
11meeting of the governing body after issuance, such term or
12terms shall become a part of the collective bargaining
13agreement of the parties. If the governing body affirmatively
14rejects one or more terms of the arbitration panel's decision,
15it must provide reasons for such rejection with respect to each
16term so rejected, within 20 days of such rejection and the
17parties shall return to the arbitration panel for further
18proceedings and issuance of a supplemental decision with
19respect to the rejected terms. Any supplemental decision by an
20arbitration panel or other decision maker agreed to by the
21parties shall be submitted to the governing body for
22ratification and adoption in accordance with the procedures and
23voting requirements set forth in this Section. The voting
24requirements of this subsection shall apply to all disputes
25submitted to arbitration pursuant to this Section
26notwithstanding any contrary voting requirements contained in

 

 

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1any existing collective bargaining agreement between the
2parties.
3    (o) If the governing body of the employer votes to reject
4the panel's decision, the parties shall return to the panel
5within 30 days from the issuance of the reasons for rejection
6for further proceedings and issuance of a supplemental
7decision. All reasonable costs of such supplemental proceeding
8including the exclusive representative's reasonable attorney's
9fees, as established by the Board, shall be paid by the
10employer.
11    (p) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section the
12employer and exclusive representative may agree to submit
13unresolved disputes concerning wages, hours, terms and
14conditions of employment to an alternative form of impasse
15resolution.
16(Source: P.A. 98-535, eff. 1-1-14; 98-1151, eff. 1-7-15.)
 
17    Section 10. The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act is
18amended by changing Section 12 as follows:
 
19    (115 ILCS 5/12)  (from Ch. 48, par. 1712)
20    Sec. 12. Impasse procedures.
21    (a) This subsection (a) applies only to collective
22bargaining between an educational employer that is not a public
23school district organized under Article 34 of the School Code
24and an exclusive representative of its employees. If the

 

 

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1parties engaged in collective bargaining have not reached an
2agreement by 90 days before the scheduled start of the
3forthcoming school year, the parties shall notify the Illinois
4Educational Labor Relations Board concerning the status of
5negotiations. This notice shall include a statement on whether
6mediation has been used.
7    Upon demand of either party, collective bargaining between
8the employer and an exclusive bargaining representative must
9begin within 60 days of the date of certification of the
10representative by the Board, or in the case of an existing
11exclusive bargaining representative, within 60 days of the
12receipt by a party of a demand to bargain issued by the other
13party. Once commenced, collective bargaining must continue for
14at least a 60 day period, unless a contract is entered into.
15    Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this
16Section, if after a reasonable period of negotiation and within
1790 days of the scheduled start of the forth-coming school year,
18the parties engaged in collective bargaining have reached an
19impasse, either party may petition the Board to initiate
20mediation. Alternatively, the Board on its own motion may
21initiate mediation during this period. However, mediation
22shall be initiated by the Board at any time when jointly
23requested by the parties and the services of the mediators
24shall continuously be made available to the employer and to the
25exclusive bargaining representative for purposes of
26arbitration of grievances and mediation or arbitration of

 

 

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1contract disputes. If requested by the parties, the mediator
2may perform fact-finding and in so doing conduct hearings and
3make written findings and recommendations for resolution of the
4dispute. Such mediation shall be provided by the Board and
5shall be held before qualified impartial individuals. Nothing
6prohibits the use of other individuals or organizations such as
7the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service or the American
8Arbitration Association selected by both the exclusive
9bargaining representative and the employer. When making wage
10and benefit determinations during interest arbitration, the
11employer's financial ability to fund the proposals based on
12existing available resources shall be given primary
13consideration, provided that such ability is not predicated on
14an assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are
15available or that the employer may or will receive or develop
16new sources of revenue or increase existing sources of revenue.
17    If the parties engaged in collective bargaining fail to
18reach an agreement within 45 days of the scheduled start of the
19forthcoming school year and have not requested mediation, the
20Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board shall invoke
21mediation.
22    Whenever mediation is initiated or invoked under this
23subsection (a), the parties may stipulate to defer selection of
24a mediator in accordance with rules adopted by the Board.
25    (a-5) This subsection (a-5) applies only to collective
26bargaining between a public school district or a combination of

 

 

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1public school districts, including, but not limited to, joint
2cooperatives, that is not organized under Article 34 of the
3School Code and an exclusive representative of its employees.
4        (1) Any time 15 days after mediation has commenced,
5    either party may initiate the public posting process. The
6    mediator may initiate the public posting process at any
7    time 15 days after mediation has commenced during the
8    mediation process. Initiation of the public posting
9    process must be filed in writing with the Board, and copies
10    must be submitted to the parties on the same day the
11    initiation is filed with the Board.
12        (2) Within 7 days after the initiation of the public
13    posting process, each party shall submit to the mediator,
14    the Board, and the other party in writing the most recent
15    offer of the party, including a cost summary of the offer.
16    Seven days after receipt of the parties' offers, the Board
17    shall make public the offers and each party's cost summary
18    dealing with those issues on which the parties have failed
19    to reach agreement by immediately posting the offers on its
20    Internet website, unless otherwise notified by the
21    mediator or jointly by the parties that agreement has been
22    reached. On the same day of publication by the Board, at a
23    minimum, the school district shall distribute notice of the
24    availability of the offers on the Board's Internet website
25    to all news media that have filed an annual request for
26    notices from the school district pursuant to Section 2.02

 

 

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1    of the Open Meetings Act. The parties' offers shall remain
2    on the Board's Internet website until the parties have
3    reached and ratified an agreement.
4    (a-10) This subsection (a-10) applies only to collective
5bargaining between a public school district organized under
6Article 34 of the School Code and an exclusive representative
7of its employees.
8        (1) For collective bargaining agreements between an
9    educational employer to which this subsection (a-10)
10    applies and an exclusive representative of its employees,
11    if the parties fail to reach an agreement after a
12    reasonable period of mediation, the dispute shall be
13    submitted to fact-finding in accordance with this
14    subsection (a-10). Either the educational employer or the
15    exclusive representative may initiate fact-finding by
16    submitting a written demand to the other party with a copy
17    of the demand submitted simultaneously to the Board.
18        (2) Within 3 days following a party's demand for
19    fact-finding, each party shall appoint one member of the
20    fact-finding panel, unless the parties agree to proceed
21    without a tri-partite panel. Following these appointments,
22    if any, the parties shall select a qualified impartial
23    individual to serve as the fact-finder and chairperson of
24    the fact-finding panel, if applicable. An individual shall
25    be considered qualified to serve as the fact-finder and
26    chairperson of the fact-finding panel, if applicable, if he

 

 

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1    or she was not the same individual who was appointed as the
2    mediator and if he or she satisfies the following
3    requirements: membership in good standing with the
4    National Academy of Arbitrators, Federal Mediation and
5    Conciliation Service, or American Arbitration Association
6    for a minimum of 10 years; membership on the mediation
7    roster for the Illinois Labor Relations Board or Illinois
8    Educational Labor Relations Board; issuance of at least 5
9    interest arbitration awards arising under the Illinois
10    Public Labor Relations Act; and participation in impasse
11    resolution processes arising under private or public
12    sector collective bargaining statutes in other states. If
13    the parties are unable to agree on a fact-finder, the
14    parties shall request a panel of fact-finders who satisfy
15    the requirements set forth in this paragraph (2) from
16    either the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service or
17    the American Arbitration Association and shall select a
18    fact-finder from such panel in accordance with the
19    procedures established by the organization providing the
20    panel.
21        (3) The fact-finder shall have the following duties and
22    powers:
23            (A) to require the parties to submit a statement of
24        disputed issues and their positions regarding each
25        issue either jointly or separately;
26            (B) to identify disputed issues that are economic

 

 

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1        in nature;
2            (C) to meet with the parties either separately or
3        in executive sessions;
4            (D) to conduct hearings and regulate the time,
5        place, course, and manner of the hearings;
6            (E) to request the Board to issue subpoenas
7        requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses or
8        the production of evidence;
9            (F) to administer oaths and affirmations;
10            (G) to examine witnesses and documents;
11            (H) to create a full and complete written record of
12        the hearings;
13            (I) to attempt mediation or remand a disputed issue
14        to the parties for further collective bargaining;
15            (J) to require the parties to submit final offers
16        for each disputed issue either individually or as a
17        package or as a combination of both; and
18            (K) to employ any other measures deemed
19        appropriate to resolve the impasse.
20        (4) If the dispute is not settled within 75 days after
21    the appointment of the fact-finding panel, the
22    fact-finding panel shall issue a private report to the
23    parties that contains advisory findings of fact and
24    recommended terms of settlement for all disputed issues and
25    that sets forth a rationale for each recommendation. The
26    fact-finding panel, acting by a majority of its members,

 

 

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1    shall base its findings and recommendations upon the
2    following criteria as applicable:
3            (A) the lawful authority of the employer;
4            (B) the federal and State statutes or local
5        ordinances and resolutions applicable to the employer;
6            (C) prior collective bargaining agreements and the
7        bargaining history between the parties;
8            (D) stipulations of the parties;
9            (E) the interests and welfare of the public and the
10        students and families served by the employer;
11            (F) the employer's financial ability to fund the
12        proposals based on existing available resources,
13        provided that such ability is not predicated on an
14        assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are
15        available or that the employer may or will receive or
16        develop new sources of revenue or increase existing
17        sources of revenue;
18            (G) the impact of any economic adjustments on the
19        employer's ability to pursue its educational mission;
20            (H) the present and future general economic
21        conditions in the locality and State;
22            (I) a comparison of the wages, hours, and
23        conditions of employment of the employees involved in
24        the dispute with the wages, hours, and conditions of
25        employment of employees performing similar services in
26        public education in the 10 largest U.S. cities;

 

 

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1            (J) the average consumer prices in urban areas for
2        goods and services, which is commonly known as the cost
3        of living;
4            (K) the overall compensation presently received by
5        the employees involved in the dispute, including
6        direct wage compensation; vacations, holidays, and
7        other excused time; insurance and pensions; medical
8        and hospitalization benefits; the continuity and
9        stability of employment and all other benefits
10        received; and how each party's proposed compensation
11        structure supports the educational goals of the
12        district;
13            (L) changes in any of the circumstances listed in
14        items (A) through (K) of this paragraph (4) during the
15        fact-finding proceedings;
16            (M) the effect that any term the parties are at
17        impasse on has or may have on the overall educational
18        environment, learning conditions, and working
19        conditions with the school district; and
20            (N) the effect that any term the parties are at
21        impasse on has or may have in promoting the public
22        policy of this State.
23        (5) The fact-finding panel's recommended terms of
24    settlement shall be deemed agreed upon by the parties as
25    the final resolution of the disputed issues and
26    incorporated into the collective bargaining agreement

 

 

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1    executed by the parties, unless either party tenders to the
2    other party and the chairperson of the fact-finding panel a
3    notice of rejection of the recommended terms of settlement
4    with a rationale for the rejection, within 15 days after
5    the date of issuance of the fact-finding panel's report. If
6    either party submits a notice of rejection, the chairperson
7    of the fact-finding panel shall publish the fact-finding
8    panel's report and the notice of rejection for public
9    information by delivering a copy to all newspapers of
10    general circulation in the community with simultaneous
11    written notice to the parties.
12    (b) If, after a period of bargaining of at least 60 days, a
13dispute or impasse exists between an educational employer whose
14territorial boundaries are coterminous with those of a city
15having a population in excess of 500,000 and the exclusive
16bargaining representative over a subject or matter set forth in
17Section 4.5 of this Act, the parties shall submit the dispute
18or impasse to the dispute resolution procedure agreed to
19between the parties. The procedure shall provide for mediation
20of disputes by a rotating mediation panel and may, at the
21request of either party, include the issuance of advisory
22findings of fact and recommendations.
23    (c) The costs of fact finding and mediation shall be shared
24equally between the employer and the exclusive bargaining
25agent, provided that, for purposes of mediation under this Act,
26if either party requests the use of mediation services from the

 

 

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1Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the other party
2shall either join in such request or bear the additional cost
3of mediation services from another source. All other costs and
4expenses of complying with this Section must be borne by the
5party incurring them.
6    (c-5) If an educational employer or exclusive bargaining
7representative refuses to participate in mediation or fact
8finding when required by this Section, the refusal shall be
9deemed a refusal to bargain in good faith.
10    (d) Nothing in this Act prevents an employer and an
11exclusive bargaining representative from mutually submitting
12to final and binding impartial arbitration unresolved issues
13concerning the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement.
14(Source: P.A. 97-7, eff. 6-13-11; 97-8, eff. 6-13-11; 98-513,
15eff. 1-1-14.)

 

 

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1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3    5 ILCS 315/7from Ch. 48, par. 1607
4    5 ILCS 315/14from Ch. 48, par. 1614
5    115 ILCS 5/12from Ch. 48, par. 1712