CHICAGO (AP) — A state labor board has denied a request by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration to bypass an administrative judge and expedite ruling on whether negotiations have stalled with Illinois’ largest public workers’ union.
The decision means the contract negotiations case with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will proceed as it has for months, with an administrative law judge. She’ll give her recommendation to the board, possibly by November.
Illinois Labor Relations Board members, appointed by the governor, voted unanimously Thursday.
They contend intervening early wouldn’t save time or money as Rauner’s office argued.
Material from the judge’s hearings is voluminous with over 5,000 pages of transcripts. The board’s attorney says it’ll take members time to study. Also, there’s little legal precedent for bypassing an administrative judge.