County of Cook v. Illinois Labor Relations Board Local Panel

**Cook County Required to Bargain with Unions Over Residency Rules** This case involved a dispute between Cook County and several of its departments (including the Sheriff's office and State's Attorney's office) and their employee unions. The county had passed an ordinance requiring employees to live within Cook County boundaries, but they implemented this residency requirement without negotiating with the unions first. The unions filed a complaint, arguing that the county violated state labor law by making this significant change to employment conditions without bargaining. The Illinois Labor Relations Board agreed with the unions and ordered the county to withdraw the ordinance and negotiate properly. The Illinois Appellate Court upheld this decision in 2004, ruling that the county and its departments had indeed violated the Public Labor Relations Act by failing to bargain in good faith over the residency requirement. **Why this matters for workers:** This ruling reinforces that unionized public employees have the right to collective bargaining over major workplace changes. Employers cannot unilaterally impose new requirements that affect employment conditions—like where workers must live—without first negotiating with unions. This protection helps ensure workers have a voice in decisions that significantly impact their lives and working conditions.