Labor Relations Board, Illinois
Board and Commission Details
Website
Contact Name
Kimberly Stevens
Contact Title
Executive Director, Illinois Labor Relations Board
Function
The State Panel of the Illinois Labor Relations Board has jurisdiction over collective bargaining matters between employee organizations and public employers such as the State of Illinois (excluding the General Assembly of the State of Illinois); units of local government (such as Illinois counties, municipalities and special districts) with a population not in excess of 2 million persons; and the Regional Transportation Authority. The State Panel does not have jurisdiction over educational employers or educational employees, except for firefighters and peace officers employed by a State university. The Local Panel of the Illinois Labor Relations Board has jurisdiction over collective bargaining matters between employee organizations and units of local government with a population in excess of 2 million persons, but excluding the Regional Transportation Authority. This includes Cook County, the City of Chicago and such entities as the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Housing Authority and the Chicago Park District. The Local Panel does not have jurisdiction over educational employers or educational employees. Both the State and Local Panels of the Board conduct secret-ballot elections to determine whether public employees want union representation; certify, modify, and clarify bargaining units; investigate and remedy unfair labor practices by public employers and unions; process information regarding arbitration and mediation that will ultimately assist parties in resolving labor-related disputes; and upon demand, conduct emergency investigations of public employee strikes and strike threats to determine whether judicial proceedings are warranted to restrain or prevent such strike activity, by examining whether the health and safety of the public will be imperiled.
Term
4 years, beginning 4th Monday in January, and until successor is appointed and qualified.
Senate Confirmation
Yes
Party Affiliation
N/A
Qualifications
Illinois residents with minimum of 5 years experience directly related to labor and employment relations in representing public employers, private employers or labor organizations; or teaching labor or employment relations; or administering executive orders or regulations applicable to labor or employment relations. Each member shall devote his or her entire time to the duties of the office, and shall hold no other office or position of profit, nor engage in any other business, employment, or vocation. No member shall hold any other public office or be employed as a labor or management representative by the State or any political subdivision of the State or of any department or agency thereof, or actively represent or act on behalf of an employer or an employee organization or an employer in labor relations matters.
Compensation
Chairman, $123,653 per year; Members, $111,292 per year
Composition
Governor appoints a Chair for both panels; State Panel—five members appointed by the Governor; Local Panel—one member appointed by the Governor; (or if person is not appointed by the Governor, Chairperson of State Panel); one member appointed by the President of the Cook County Board; one member appointed by the Mayor of the City of Chicago.
Chair
Designated by the Governor
Authority
5 ILCS 315/5
Member Names
| Name | Member Expiration | Member Since | Affiliation | Appointed By | Position | Title | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowry, William | 01/24/2026 | 05/17/2019 | Governor | Chair, State Panel | Cook | ||
| Anderson, Charles | 01/19/2015 | 05/01/2007 | Cook County Board President | Member, Local Panel | Cook | ||
| Hurley, Frances Ann | 01/22/2028 | 03/01/2023 | Governor | Member, State Panel | Cook | ||
| Sered, Lynne | 01/27/2025 | 03/01/2021 | Governor | Chair, Local Panel | Cook | ||
| Mears, Jeffrey | 01/24/2026 | 04/21/2022 | Governor | Member, State Panel | Johnson | ||
| VACANT | Governor | Member, State Panel | |||||
| Cunningham, Kendra | 01/27/2025 | 05/17/2019 | Governor | Member, State Panel | Morgan | ||
| Thomas, Angela | Mayor of Chicago | Member, Local Panel | Cook |