American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees v. Illinois Labor Relations Board, Local Panel

**Union Loses Fight to Include City Procurement Specialists** The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) wanted to add 16 Senior Procurement Specialist employees from the City of Chicago to their union bargaining unit. These employees help manage the city's purchasing and contracting processes. However, the Illinois Labor Relations Board said no, ruling that these workers were actually managers, not regular employees who could join the union. AFSCME disagreed and appealed the decision to a higher court. They argued that these specialists should be allowed to unionize like other city workers. The appellate court sided with the Labor Relations Board, confirming that the Senior Procurement Specialists were indeed managerial employees who cannot be part of the union bargaining unit. **What This Means for Workers:** This ruling highlights an important limitation in workers' rights to organize. Employees classified as "managers" are generally excluded from joining unions, even if they don't supervise other people directly. Workers in specialized roles that involve significant decision-making authority may find themselves unable to access union representation and collective bargaining protections. If you're unsure about your classification, it's worth understanding whether your job duties might place you in a managerial category.