The Illinois Supreme Court on May 27 declined to allow the U. of I. an appeal, leaving in place an appellate court ruling recognizing the two separate labor union certifications for specialized faculty members on the Urbana campus.
The ruling creates a bargaining unit for specialized faculty members at University Laboratory High School and one for the specialized faculty members on the rest of the campus.
University officials had asserted that the separate bargaining units, represented by two different unions, would cause unnecessary fragmentation, and that one specialized faculty bargaining unit would be more appropriate.
“Our concern is that this opens up the possibility that small, fragmented groups of employees might form bargaining units, instead of creating a single group to represent the entire community of employees with similar responsibilities, terms and conditions of employment,” said Robin Kaler, a university spokesperson, after the two units last year were certified separately by the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board.
Despite the disagreement and court challenge, filed on behalf of the U. of I. Board of Trustees, university officials said they continue to bargain in good faith with union leadership, as they have for the past eight months.
After the ruling, CFA Local 6546 representatives posted a message on its Facebook page calling the court decision a “huge win” for the newly established union.
“Our certification stands with no challenges,” it said.
