NCJ Number
108908
Editor(s)
T M Frost
Date Published
1987
Length
72 pages
Annotation
In 1985, the Illinois Assembly amended the Public Labor Relations Act, thereby extending the right of collective bargaining and interest arbitration to almost all Illinois police officers. These papers examine issues related to the legal and practical implications of this change.
Abstract
Following a review of the legislative history of collective bargaining rights in the State and the role of the Illinois Labor Relations Board, collective bargaining and interest arbitration procedures and provisions are examined from the perspectives of the employer's and the union's representatives. The costs associated with the legislation are discussed, including those related to legal fees, research costs, and settlement expenses and those related to required changes in philosophy and management style. The implications of the legislation for the managerial role of the police chief are considered, with a focus on balancing relations between labor and management. The rights accorded and denied police officers under the legislation are delineated, and the limitations of compulsory interest arbitration as an alternative to strikes are discussed.