Kane County Faces New Labor Charge Over Stalled Contract Talks
Union Local 399 alleges county officials sent representatives without authority to the bargaining table, prompting a complaint to the state board.
By Aiko Sato ·
Kane County workers in the engineering department are seeking state intervention after a two-year contract dispute stalled. The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399 filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the Illinois Labor Relations Board on Oct. 1. The filing claims the county is negotiating in bad faith and has interfered with employee rights under the state labor act.
The complaint specifically alleges that county officials sent individuals to bargaining sessions who lacked the authority to make decisions. Local 399 argues this practice violated Sections 10(a)(4) and 10(a)(1) of the relevant labor law. The union seeks an order from the board requiring the county to meet and bargain in good faith regarding wages, hours, and other employment terms.
Mia Korinke, a project manager and spokesperson for the union, stated that the 20 employees in the bargaining unit have been working without a new contract for over two years. She described the negotiations as long and protracted, noting that management has offered little progress. The union is currently seeking cost-of-living benefits and is working through traditional contract issues.
To draw public attention to the dispute, the union placed an inflated figure of Scabby the Rat on Randall Road in St. Charles on Nov. 3. Korinke said the display was intended to educate the public about the workers who keep county buildings running. The visual protest served as a backdrop to the formal legal challenge filed with the state.
State law dictates that the Illinois Labor Relations Board will assign a field examiner or attorney to investigate the charge. Board President Corinne Pierog acknowledged the extended timeline of the negotiations in an email statement. She recognized the importance of reaching an agreement that works for both parties and valued the contributions of Kane County employees to service delivery.
Pierog stated she remains committed to the collective bargaining process and to maintaining open communication. The county and the union have not announced a new schedule for bargaining sessions since the complaint was filed. The union reserved the right to amend the charge as additional information becomes available.
