Public Accountability Report

The Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, 5 ILCS 315, enacted by Public Act 83-1012, effective July 1, 1984, governs labor relations between most public employers in Illinois and their employees, along with the labor organizations that represent these employees. The Act guarantees the right of public employees to organize and to bargain collectively with their employers, through the process of certification, investigatory procedures, administrative hearings, and dispute resolutions. Throughout the state, the Illinois Labor Relations Board regulates the designation of employee representatives; the negotiation of wages, hours, and other conditions of employment; and resolves or, if necessary, adjudicates labor disputes.

The State Panel of the Board has jurisdiction over public, non-educational employers and employees throughout the State of Illinois. Its jurisdiction includes state government, county governments, municipal governments covering populations not in excess of two million persons, and the Regional Transportation Authority.

The Local Panel of the Board has jurisdiction over units of local government with a population in excess of two million persons. This includes not only the County of Cook and the City of Chicago, but also other countywide and citywide governmental entities, such as the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, the Chicago Housing Authority, the Chicago Transit Authority, and the Chicago Park District.