Degree Name

Education Specialist (EdS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1989

Thesis Director

Larry Janes

Abstract

The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (IELRA) took effect on January 1, 1984. By the 1988-89 school year, the number of Illinois public school districts with negotiated contracts had increased by nearly 68%, from 507 to 850. The effect of the Act on multi-district special education cooperatives is not as easily determined.

Directors of Illinois' 54 multi-district special education cooperatives outside Cook County were surveyed to obtain demographic data and information on the collective bargaining experiences of these cooperatives. Responses were received from 41 directors (76%).

These directors reported geographic sizes ranging from 144 to 4,000 square miles, with enrollments between 5,100 and 69,500 students. As a group, the cooperatives in the northern part of the state are smaller geographically but provide services to more students. Many of the cooperative governing boards appear not to be in compliance with the authorizing statute, Section 10-22.31 of the School Code.

The directors reported that, prior to the IELRA, employees in 11 of 39 cooperatives (28%) had chosed an exclusive bargaining representative. By the 1988-89 school year, employees in 28 of these same cooperatives had (72 %). Cooperatives in the northern part of the state are most likely to be represented, but the increase is greatest in the south as none of them reported having an exclusive bargaining representative prior to the Act. Of the directors who responded, nine reported that their employees are part of the administrative district's bargaining unit. In the former, directors are seldom included in negotiations; in the latter, they usually are.

Despite the increase in negotiated agreements, only a third of the directors report major problems in negotiations. Only one strike was reported, and that was in a cooperative whose employees are part of the administrative district's bargaining unit.

Directors were surveyed regarding their attitudes toward collective bargaining. As a group they are neutral, with more experienced directors slightly, though not significantly, more positive about it. Few expressed strong opinions (either positive or negative) toward collective bargaining.

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