98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB3514

 

Introduced 2/14/2014, by Sen. Linda Holmes

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
5 ILCS 315/9  from Ch. 48, par. 1609
5 ILCS 315/14  from Ch. 48, par. 1614

    Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Provides that no election shall be directed by the Illinois Labor Relations Board in any bargaining unit after an interest arbitrator has been appointed pursuant to the impasse resolution procedures under the Act, except in the case of fire fighter units. Provides that for peace officer units and security employee units only, within 7 days after the request of either party to proceed to arbitration, the parties shall request a panel of impartial arbitrators from which they shall select the neutral chairman, unless the parties have mutually agreed upon an arbitrator or have negotiated a contract procedure for selecting an impartial interest arbitrator. Provides that in the absence of mutual agreement or an agreed contract procedure for selecting an impartial arbitrator, either party may request a panel from the Board. Provides that if the parties fail to notify the Board of their selection of a neutral chairman within 7 days after receipt of the list of impartial arbitrators, the Board shall appoint, at random, a neutral chairman from the list.


LRB098 18991 OMW 54140 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3514LRB098 18991 OMW 54140 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 3. The Illinois Public Labor Relations Act is
5amended by changing Sections 9 and 14 as follows:
 
6    (5 ILCS 315/9)  (from Ch. 48, par. 1609)
7    Sec. 9. Elections; recognition.
8    (a) Whenever in accordance with such regulations as may be
9prescribed by the Board a petition has been filed:
10        (1) by a public employee or group of public employees
11    or any labor organization acting in their behalf
12    demonstrating that 30% of the public employees in an
13    appropriate unit (A) wish to be represented for the
14    purposes of collective bargaining by a labor organization
15    as exclusive representative, or (B) asserting that the
16    labor organization which has been certified or is currently
17    recognized by the public employer as bargaining
18    representative is no longer the representative of the
19    majority of public employees in the unit; or
20        (2) by a public employer alleging that one or more
21    labor organizations have presented to it a claim that they
22    be recognized as the representative of a majority of the
23    public employees in an appropriate unit,

 

 

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1the Board shall investigate such petition, and if it has
2reasonable cause to believe that a question of representation
3exists, shall provide for an appropriate hearing upon due
4notice. Such hearing shall be held at the offices of the Board
5or such other location as the Board deems appropriate. If it
6finds upon the record of the hearing that a question of
7representation exists, it shall direct an election in
8accordance with subsection (d) of this Section, which election
9shall be held not later than 120 days after the date the
10petition was filed regardless of whether that petition was
11filed before or after the effective date of this amendatory Act
12of 1987; provided, however, the Board may extend the time for
13holding an election by an additional 60 days if, upon motion by
14a person who has filed a petition under this Section or is the
15subject of a petition filed under this Section and is a party
16to such hearing, or upon the Board's own motion, the Board
17finds that good cause has been shown for extending the election
18date; provided further, that nothing in this Section shall
19prohibit the Board, in its discretion, from extending the time
20for holding an election for so long as may be necessary under
21the circumstances, where the purpose for such extension is to
22permit resolution by the Board of an unfair labor practice
23charge filed by one of the parties to a representational
24proceeding against the other based upon conduct which may
25either affect the existence of a question concerning
26representation or have a tendency to interfere with a fair and

 

 

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1free election, where the party filing the charge has not filed
2a request to proceed with the election; and provided further
3that prior to the expiration of the total time allotted for
4holding an election, a person who has filed a petition under
5this Section or is the subject of a petition filed under this
6Section and is a party to such hearing or the Board, may move
7for and obtain the entry of an order in the circuit court of
8the county in which the majority of the public employees sought
9to be represented by such person reside, such order extending
10the date upon which the election shall be held. Such order
11shall be issued by the circuit court only upon a judicial
12finding that there has been a sufficient showing that there is
13good cause to extend the election date beyond such period and
14shall require the Board to hold the election as soon as is
15feasible given the totality of the circumstances. Such 120 day
16period may be extended one or more times by the agreement of
17all parties to the hearing to a date certain without the
18necessity of obtaining a court order. Nothing in this Section
19prohibits the waiving of hearings by stipulation for the
20purpose of a consent election in conformity with the rules and
21regulations of the Board or an election in a unit agreed upon
22by the parties. Other interested employee organizations may
23intervene in the proceedings in the manner and within the time
24period specified by rules and regulations of the Board.
25Interested parties who are necessary to the proceedings may
26also intervene in the proceedings in the manner and within the

 

 

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1time period specified by the rules and regulations of the
2Board.
3    (a-5) The Board shall designate an exclusive
4representative for purposes of collective bargaining when the
5representative demonstrates a showing of majority interest by
6employees in the unit. If the parties to a dispute are without
7agreement on the means to ascertain the choice, if any, of
8employee organization as their representative, the Board shall
9ascertain the employees' choice of employee organization, on
10the basis of dues deduction authorization or other evidence,
11or, if necessary, by conducting an election. All evidence
12submitted by an employee organization to the Board to ascertain
13an employee's choice of an employee organization is
14confidential and shall not be submitted to the employer for
15review. The Board shall ascertain the employee's choice of
16employee organization within 120 days after the filing of the
17majority interest petition; however, the Board may extend time
18by an additional 60 days, upon its own motion or upon the
19motion of a party to the proceeding. If either party provides
20to the Board, before the designation of a representative, clear
21and convincing evidence that the dues deduction
22authorizations, and other evidence upon which the Board would
23otherwise rely to ascertain the employees' choice of
24representative, are fraudulent or were obtained through
25coercion, the Board shall promptly thereafter conduct an
26election. The Board shall also investigate and consider a

 

 

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1party's allegations that the dues deduction authorizations and
2other evidence submitted in support of a designation of
3representative without an election were subsequently changed,
4altered, withdrawn, or withheld as a result of employer fraud,
5coercion, or any other unfair labor practice by the employer.
6If the Board determines that a labor organization would have
7had a majority interest but for an employer's fraud, coercion,
8or unfair labor practice, it shall designate the labor
9organization as an exclusive representative without conducting
10an election. If a hearing is necessary to resolve any issues of
11representation under this Section, the Board shall conclude its
12hearing process and issue a certification of the entire
13appropriate unit not later than 120 days after the date the
14petition was filed. The 120-day period may be extended one or
15more times by the agreement of all parties to a hearing to a
16date certain.
17    (a-6) A labor organization or an employer may file a unit
18clarification petition seeking to clarify an existing
19bargaining unit. The Board shall conclude its investigation,
20including any hearing process deemed necessary, and issue a
21certification of clarified unit or dismiss the petition not
22later than 120 days after the date the petition was filed. The
23120-day period may be extended one or more times by the
24agreement of all parties to a hearing to a date certain.
25    (b) The Board shall decide in each case, in order to assure
26public employees the fullest freedom in exercising the rights

 

 

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1guaranteed by this Act, a unit appropriate for the purpose of
2collective bargaining, based upon but not limited to such
3factors as: historical pattern of recognition; community of
4interest including employee skills and functions; degree of
5functional integration; interchangeability and contact among
6employees; fragmentation of employee groups; common
7supervision, wages, hours and other working conditions of the
8employees involved; and the desires of the employees. For
9purposes of this subsection, fragmentation shall not be the
10sole or predominant factor used by the Board in determining an
11appropriate bargaining unit. Except with respect to non-State
12fire fighters and paramedics employed by fire departments and
13fire protection districts, non-State peace officers and peace
14officers in the State Department of State Police, a single
15bargaining unit determined by the Board may not include both
16supervisors and nonsupervisors, except for bargaining units in
17existence on the effective date of this Act. With respect to
18non-State fire fighters and paramedics employed by fire
19departments and fire protection districts, non-State peace
20officers and peace officers in the State Department of State
21Police, a single bargaining unit determined by the Board may
22not include both supervisors and nonsupervisors, except for
23bargaining units in existence on the effective date of this
24amendatory Act of 1985.
25    In cases involving an historical pattern of recognition,
26and in cases where the employer has recognized the union as the

 

 

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1sole and exclusive bargaining agent for a specified existing
2unit, the Board shall find the employees in the unit then
3represented by the union pursuant to the recognition to be the
4appropriate unit.
5    Notwithstanding the above factors, where the majority of
6public employees of a craft so decide, the Board shall
7designate such craft as a unit appropriate for the purposes of
8collective bargaining.
9    The Board shall not decide that any unit is appropriate if
10such unit includes both professional and nonprofessional
11employees, unless a majority of each group votes for inclusion
12in such unit.
13    (c) Nothing in this Act shall interfere with or negate the
14current representation rights or patterns and practices of
15labor organizations which have historically represented public
16employees for the purpose of collective bargaining, including
17but not limited to the negotiations of wages, hours and working
18conditions, discussions of employees' grievances, resolution
19of jurisdictional disputes, or the establishment and
20maintenance of prevailing wage rates, unless a majority of
21employees so represented express a contrary desire pursuant to
22the procedures set forth in this Act.
23    (d) In instances where the employer does not voluntarily
24recognize a labor organization as the exclusive bargaining
25representative for a unit of employees, the Board shall
26determine the majority representative of the public employees

 

 

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1in an appropriate collective bargaining unit by conducting a
2secret ballot election, except as otherwise provided in
3subsection (a-5). Within 7 days after the Board issues its
4bargaining unit determination and direction of election or the
5execution of a stipulation for the purpose of a consent
6election, the public employer shall submit to the labor
7organization the complete names and addresses of those
8employees who are determined by the Board to be eligible to
9participate in the election. When the Board has determined that
10a labor organization has been fairly and freely chosen by a
11majority of employees in an appropriate unit, it shall certify
12such organization as the exclusive representative. If the Board
13determines that a majority of employees in an appropriate unit
14has fairly and freely chosen not to be represented by a labor
15organization, it shall so certify. The Board may also revoke
16the certification of the public employee organizations as
17exclusive bargaining representatives which have been found by a
18secret ballot election to be no longer the majority
19representative.
20    (e) The Board shall not conduct an election in any
21bargaining unit or any subdivision thereof within which a valid
22election has been held in the preceding 12-month period. The
23Board shall determine who is eligible to vote in an election
24and shall establish rules governing the conduct of the election
25or conduct affecting the results of the election. The Board
26shall include on a ballot in a representation election a choice

 

 

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1of "no representation". A labor organization currently
2representing the bargaining unit of employees shall be placed
3on the ballot in any representation election. In any election
4where none of the choices on the ballot receives a majority, a
5runoff election shall be conducted between the 2 choices
6receiving the largest number of valid votes cast in the
7election. A labor organization which receives a majority of the
8votes cast in an election shall be certified by the Board as
9exclusive representative of all public employees in the unit.
10    (f) A labor organization shall be designated as the
11exclusive representative by a public employer, provided that
12the labor organization represents a majority of the public
13employees in an appropriate unit. Any employee organization
14which is designated or selected by the majority of public
15employees, in a unit of the public employer having no other
16recognized or certified representative, as their
17representative for purposes of collective bargaining may
18request recognition by the public employer in writing. The
19public employer shall post such request for a period of at
20least 20 days following its receipt thereof on bulletin boards
21or other places used or reserved for employee notices.
22    (g) Within the 20-day period any other interested employee
23organization may petition the Board in the manner specified by
24rules and regulations of the Board, provided that such
25interested employee organization has been designated by at
26least 10% of the employees in an appropriate bargaining unit

 

 

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1which includes all or some of the employees in the unit
2recognized by the employer. In such event, the Board shall
3proceed with the petition in the same manner as provided by
4paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Section.
5    (h) No election shall be directed by the Board in any
6bargaining unit where there is in force a valid collective
7bargaining agreement or, except in the case of fire fighter
8units, after an interest arbitrator has been appointed pursuant
9to the impasse resolution procedures in Section 14 of this Act.
10The Board, however, may process an election petition filed
11between 90 and 60 days prior to the expiration of the date of
12an agreement, and may further refine, by rule or decision, the
13implementation of this provision. Where more than 4 years have
14elapsed since the effective date of the agreement, the
15agreement shall continue to bar an election, except that the
16Board may process an election petition filed between 90 and 60
17days prior to the end of the fifth year of such an agreement,
18and between 90 and 60 days prior to the end of each successive
19year of such agreement.
20    (i) An order of the Board dismissing a representation
21petition, determining and certifying that a labor organization
22has been fairly and freely chosen by a majority of employees in
23an appropriate bargaining unit, determining and certifying
24that a labor organization has not been fairly and freely chosen
25by a majority of employees in the bargaining unit or certifying
26a labor organization as the exclusive representative of

 

 

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1employees in an appropriate bargaining unit because of a
2determination by the Board that the labor organization is the
3historical bargaining representative of employees in the
4bargaining unit, is a final order. Any person aggrieved by any
5such order issued on or after the effective date of this
6amendatory Act of 1987 may apply for and obtain judicial review
7in accordance with provisions of the Administrative Review Law,
8as now or hereafter amended, except that such review shall be
9afforded directly in the Appellate Court for the district in
10which the aggrieved party resides or transacts business. Any
11direct appeal to the Appellate Court shall be filed within 35
12days from the date that a copy of the decision sought to be
13reviewed was served upon the party affected by the decision.
14(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 96-813, eff. 10-30-09.)
 
15    (5 ILCS 315/14)  (from Ch. 48, par. 1614)
16    Sec. 14. Security Employee, Peace Officer and Fire Fighter
17Disputes.
18    (a) In the case of collective bargaining agreements
19involving units of security employees of a public employer,
20Peace Officer Units, or units of fire fighters or paramedics,
21and in the case of disputes under Section 18, unless the
22parties mutually agree to some other time limit, mediation
23shall commence 30 days prior to the expiration date of such
24agreement or at such later time as the mediation services
25chosen under subsection (b) of Section 12 can be provided to

 

 

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1the parties. In the case of negotiations for an initial
2collective bargaining agreement, mediation shall commence upon
315 days notice from either party or at such later time as the
4mediation services chosen pursuant to subsection (b) of Section
512 can be provided to the parties. In mediation under this
6Section, if either party requests the use of mediation services
7from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the other
8party shall either join in such request or bear the additional
9cost of mediation services from another source. The mediator
10shall have a duty to keep the Board informed on the progress of
11the mediation. If any dispute has not been resolved within 15
12days after the first meeting of the parties and the mediator,
13or within such other time limit as may be mutually agreed upon
14by the parties, either the exclusive representative or employer
15may request of the other, in writing, arbitration, and shall
16submit a copy of the request to the Board.
17    (b) Within 10 days after such a request for arbitration has
18been made, the employer shall choose a delegate and the
19employees' exclusive representative shall choose a delegate to
20a panel of arbitration as provided in this Section. The
21employer and employees shall forthwith advise the other and the
22Board of their selections.
23    (c) Within 7 days after the request of either party, the
24parties shall request a panel of impartial arbitrators from
25which they shall select the neutral chairman according to the
26procedures provided in this Section. If the parties have agreed

 

 

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1to a contract that contains a grievance resolution procedure as
2provided in Section 8, the chairman shall be selected using
3their agreed contract procedure unless they mutually agree to
4another procedure. If the parties fail to notify the Board of
5their selection of neutral chairman within 7 days after receipt
6of the list of impartial arbitrators, the Board shall appoint,
7at random, a neutral chairman from the list. In the absence of
8an agreed contract procedure for selecting an impartial
9arbitrator, either party may request a panel from the Board.
10    Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph in this subsection
11(c), for peace officer units and security employee units only,
12within 7 days after the request of either party to proceed to
13arbitration, the parties shall request a panel of impartial
14arbitrators from which they shall select the neutral chairman,
15unless the parties have mutually agreed upon an arbitrator or
16have negotiated a contract procedure for selecting an impartial
17interest arbitrator. In the absence of mutual agreement or an
18agreed contract procedure for selecting an impartial
19arbitrator, either party may request a panel from the Board. If
20the parties fail to notify the Board of their selection of a
21neutral chairman within 7 days after receipt of the list of
22impartial arbitrators, the Board shall appoint, at random, a
23neutral chairman from the list.
24    Within 7 days of the request of either party, the Board
25shall select from the Public Employees Labor Mediation Roster 7
26persons who are on the labor arbitration panels of either the

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1which, in the opinion of the arbitration panel, more nearly
2complies with the applicable factors prescribed in subsection
3(h). The findings, opinions and order as to all other issues
4shall be based upon the applicable factors prescribed in
5subsection (h).
6    (h) Where there is no agreement between the parties, or
7where there is an agreement but the parties have begun
8negotiations or discussions looking to a new agreement or
9amendment of the existing agreement, and wage rates or other
10conditions of employment under the proposed new or amended
11agreement are in dispute, the arbitration panel shall base its
12findings, opinions and order upon the following factors, as
13applicable:
14        (1) The lawful authority of the employer.
15        (2) Stipulations of the parties.
16        (3) The interests and welfare of the public and the
17    financial ability of the unit of government to meet those
18    costs.
19        (4) Comparison of the wages, hours and conditions of
20    employment of the employees involved in the arbitration
21    proceeding with the wages, hours and conditions of
22    employment of other employees performing similar services
23    and with other employees generally:
24            (A) In public employment in comparable
25        communities.
26            (B) In private employment in comparable

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1arbitration decision regarding equipment levels if such
2decision is based on a finding that the equipment
3considerations in a specific work assignment involve a serious
4risk to the safety of a fire fighter beyond that which is
5inherent in the normal performance of fire fighter duties.
6Limitation of the terms of the arbitration decision pursuant to
7this subsection shall not be construed to limit the facts upon
8which the decision may be based, as set forth in subsection
9(h).
10    The changes to this subsection (i) made by Public Act
1190-385 (relating to residency requirements) do not apply to
12persons who are employed by a combined department that performs
13both police and firefighting services; these persons shall be
14governed by the provisions of this subsection (i) relating to
15peace officers, as they existed before the amendment by Public
16Act 90-385.
17    To preserve historical bargaining rights, this subsection
18shall not apply to any provision of a fire fighter collective
19bargaining agreement in effect and applicable on the effective
20date of this Act; provided, however, nothing herein shall
21preclude arbitration with respect to any such provision.
22    (j) Arbitration procedures shall be deemed to be initiated
23by the filing of a letter requesting mediation as required
24under subsection (a) of this Section. The commencement of a new
25municipal fiscal year after the initiation of arbitration
26procedures under this Act, but before the arbitration decision,

 

 

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1or its enforcement, shall not be deemed to render a dispute
2moot, or to otherwise impair the jurisdiction or authority of
3the arbitration panel or its decision. Increases in rates of
4compensation awarded by the arbitration panel may be effective
5only at the start of the fiscal year next commencing after the
6date of the arbitration award. If a new fiscal year has
7commenced either since the initiation of arbitration
8procedures under this Act or since any mutually agreed
9extension of the statutorily required period of mediation under
10this Act by the parties to the labor dispute causing a delay in
11the initiation of arbitration, the foregoing limitations shall
12be inapplicable, and such awarded increases may be retroactive
13to the commencement of the fiscal year, any other statute or
14charter provisions to the contrary, notwithstanding. At any
15time the parties, by stipulation, may amend or modify an award
16of arbitration.
17    (k) Orders of the arbitration panel shall be reviewable,
18upon appropriate petition by either the public employer or the
19exclusive bargaining representative, by the circuit court for
20the county in which the dispute arose or in which a majority of
21the affected employees reside, but only for reasons that the
22arbitration panel was without or exceeded its statutory
23authority; the order is arbitrary, or capricious; or the order
24was procured by fraud, collusion or other similar and unlawful
25means. Such petitions for review must be filed with the
26appropriate circuit court within 90 days following the issuance

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1the panel's decision, the parties shall return to the panel
2within 30 days from the issuance of the reasons for rejection
3for further proceedings and issuance of a supplemental
4decision. All reasonable costs of such supplemental proceeding
5including the exclusive representative's reasonable attorney's
6fees, as established by the Board, shall be paid by the
7employer.
8    (p) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section the
9employer and exclusive representative may agree to submit
10unresolved disputes concerning wages, hours, terms and
11conditions of employment to an alternative form of impasse
12resolution.
13(Source: P.A. 98-535, eff. 1-1-14.)