The Executive Director of the Illinois Labor Relations Board (ILRB) has issued a complaint against Mercer County related to its contract negotiations with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150, which represents sheriff deputies, correction officers, as well as courthouse and Highway Department employees.
In the eight-page complaint, ILRB Executive Director Kimberly Stevens alleged that Mercer County violated state labor law by making false public statements about negotiations, refusing to submit contract proposals for several months, and failing to negotiate in good faith with Local 150. The union takes issue with the county’s position that keeping employees covered by the county’s health care plan would save as much as $500,000 compared to putting employees in Local 150’s plan. The union claims these figures were never substantiated by the county or by County Administrator Ron Fullerlove.
Mercer County has 15 days to respond to the complaint, after which a hearing date will be set for parties to respond to the complaint at the Illinois Labor Relations Board.