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Title Labor Relations Board, Illinois 
Website http://www2.state.il.us/ilrb/index.asp 
Contact Name Melissa Mlynski 
Contact Title Executive Director, Illinois Labor Relations Board 
Contact Phone 312.793.6400 
Contact Email  
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 
Compensation Chairman, $104,538 per year; Members, $93,926 per year.  
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. 
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 (Last, First) Ascending Term Expires Member Since Appointed By Position County
Anderson, Charles  01/19/2015  05/01/2007  Cook County Board President  Member, Local Panel  Cook 
Besson, Paul   01/27/2014  11/30/2011  Governor  Member, State Panel  Cook 
Brennwald, James Q.   01/26/2015  11/14/2011  Governor  Member, State Panel  Cook 
Coli, Michael  01/27/2014  07/01/2006  Governor  Member, State Panel  McHenry 
Gierut, Robert  01/23/2017  07/25/2011  Governor  Chair, Local Panel  DuPage 
Hartnett, John  01/25/2016  09/04/2012  Governor  Chair, Member, State Panel  Sangamon 
Lewis, Richard      Mayor of Chicago  Member, Local Panel  Cook 
Washington, Al  01/23/2017  11/01/2008  Governor  Member, State Panel  Cook 

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