ILCS » Chapter 115 · Act 5
Illinois Compiled Statutes

115 ILCS 5/14 (2026)

Unfair labor practices

✓ current as of May 2026
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(115 ILCS 5/14) (from Ch. 48, par. 1714)
    Sec. 14. Unfair labor practices.
    (a) Educational employers, their agents or representatives are prohibited from:
        (1) Interfering, restraining or coercing employees in
    
the exercise of the rights guaranteed under this Act.
        (2) Dominating or interfering with the formation,
    
existence or administration of any employee organization.
        (3) Discriminating in regard to hire or tenure of
    
employment or any term or condition of employment to encourage or discourage membership in any employee organization.
        (4) Discharging or otherwise discriminating against
    
an employee because he or she has signed or filed an affidavit, authorization card, petition or complaint or given any information or testimony under this Act.
        (5) Refusing to bargain collectively in good faith
    
with an employee representative which is the exclusive representative of employees in an appropriate unit, including, but not limited to, the discussing of grievances with the exclusive representative; provided, however, that if an alleged unfair labor practice involves interpretation or application of the terms of a collective bargaining agreement and said agreement contains a grievance and arbitration procedure, the Board may defer the resolution of such dispute to the grievance and arbitration procedure contained in said agreement.
        (6) Refusing to reduce a collective bargaining
    
agreement to writing and signing such agreement.
        (7) Violating any of the rules and regulations
    
promulgated by the Board regulating the conduct of representation elections.
        (8) Refusing to comply with the provisions of a
    
binding arbitration award.
        (9) Expending or causing the expenditure of public
    
funds to any external agent, individual, firm, agency, partnership or association in any attempt to influence the outcome of representational elections held pursuant to paragraph (c) of Section 7 of this Act; provided, that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit an employer's right to be represented on any matter pertaining to unit determinations, unfair labor practice charges or pre-election conferences in any formal or informal proceeding before the Board, or to seek or obtain advice from legal counsel. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit an employer from expending or causing the expenditure of public funds on, or seeking or obtaining services or advice from, any organization, group or association established by, and including educational or public employers, whether or not covered by this Act, the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act or the public employment labor relations law of any other state or the federal government, provided that such services or advice are generally available to the membership of the organization, group, or association, and are not offered solely in an attempt to influence the outcome of a particular representational election.
        (10) Interfering with, restraining, coercing,
    
deterring or discouraging educational employees or applicants to be educational employees from: (1) becoming members of an employee organization; (2) authorizing representation by an employee organization; or (3) authorizing dues or fee deductions to an employee organization, nor shall the employer intentionally permit outside third parties to use its email or other communications systems to engage in that conduct. An employer's good faith implementation of a policy to block the use of its email or other communication systems for such purposes shall be a defense to an unfair labor practice.
        (11) Disclosing to any person or entity information
    
set forth in subsection (d) of Section 3 of this Act that the employer knows or should know will be used to interfere with, restrain, coerce, deter, or discourage any public employee from: (i) becoming or remaining members of a labor organization, (ii) authorizing representation by a labor organization, or (iii) authorizing dues or fee deductions to a labor organization.
        (12) Promising, threatening, or taking any action (i)
    
to permanently replace an employee who participates in a lawful strike under Section 13 of this Act, (ii) to discriminate against an employee who is working or has unconditionally offered to return to work for the employer because the employee supported or participated in such as a lawful strike, or (iii) to lock out, suspend, or otherwise withhold from employment employees in order to influence the position of such employees or the representative of such employees in collective bargaining prior to a lawful strike.
    (b) Employee organizations, their agents or representatives or educational employees are prohibited from:
        (1) Restraining or coercing employees in the exercise
    
of the rights guaranteed under this Act, provided that a labor organization or its agents shall commit an unfair labor practice under this paragraph in duty of fair representation cases only by intentional misconduct in representing employees under this Act.
        (2) Restraining or coercing an educational employer
    
in the selection of his representative for the purposes of collective bargaining or the adjustment of grievances.
        (3) Refusing to bargain collectively in good faith
    
with an educational employer, if they have been designated in accordance with the provisions of this Act as the exclusive representative of employees in an appropriate unit.
        (4) Violating any of the rules and regulations
    
promulgated by the Board regulating the conduct of representation elections.
        (5) Refusing to reduce a collective bargaining
    
agreement to writing and signing such agreement.
        (6) Refusing to comply with the provisions of a
    
binding arbitration award.
    (c) The expressing of any views, argument, opinion or the dissemination thereof, whether in written, printed, graphic or visual form, shall not constitute or be evidence of an unfair labor practice under any of the provisions of this Act, if such expression contains no threat of reprisal or force or promise of benefit.
    (c-5) The employer shall not discourage public employees or applicants to be public employees from becoming or remaining union members or authorizing dues deductions, and shall not otherwise interfere with the relationship between employees and their exclusive bargaining representative. The employer shall refer all inquiries about union membership to the exclusive bargaining representative, except that the employer may communicate with employees regarding payroll processes and procedures. The employer will establish email policies in an effort to prohibit the use of its email system by outside sources.
    (d) The actions of a Financial Oversight Panel created pursuant to Section 1A-8 of the School Code due to a district violating a financial plan shall not constitute or be evidence of an unfair labor practice under any of the provisions of this Act. Such actions include, but are not limited to, reviewing, approving, or rejecting a school district budget or a collective bargaining agreement.
(Source: P.A. 101-620, eff. 12-20-19; 102-588, eff. 8-20-21; 102-596, eff. 8-27-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 75 cases (15 in the last 5 years), 1994–2026 · leading case: Speed Dist. 802 v. Warning, 950 N.E.2d 1069 (Ill. 2011).
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Speed Dist. 802 v. Warning, 950 N.E.2d 1069 (Ill. 2011). · cites it 14× “On January 8, 2008, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB or the Board) issued a decision, finding that SPEED District 802 (the District) violated section 14(a)(3) and, derivatively, section 14(a)(1) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (115 ILCS…”
Niles Twp. High Sch. Dist. 219 v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 883 N.E.2d 29 (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). · cites it 10× “Presiding Justice CAHILL, delivered the opinion of the court: Petitioner Niles Township High School District 219 (District) seeks direct administrative review of a decision by respondent Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB), that the District committed an unfair…”
W. Illinois Univ. v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 2021 IL 126082 (Ill. 2021). · cites it 6× “OPINION ¶1 The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (Board) found that Western Illinois University (University) committed an unfair labor practice in violation of section 14(a)(8) and, derivatively, section 14(a)(1) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (Act)…”
Bd. of Trs. v. Illinois Labor Relations Bd., 862 N.E.2d 944 (Ill. 2007). · cites it 5× “(Ill.) par. 150. *948 The IELRB reviewed the recommended decision and adopted the ALJ's findings of fact.”
Speed Dist. 802 v. Warning, 911 N.E.2d 425 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009). · cites it 10× “" 115 ILCS 5/14 (a)(3) (West 2006). Section 14(a)(1) of the Act covers an employer's adverse action against an employee due to protected activity not necessarily involving a union.”
Chicago Teachers Union v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 778 N.E.2d 1232 (Ill. App. Ct. 2002). · cites it 4× “When the Board of Education refused to comply with the arbitration awards, the Union filed unfair labor practice charges against it, alleging that the Board of Education violated section 14(a)(8) and, derivatively, section 14(a)(1) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations…”
Chicago Sch. Reform Bd. of Trustes v. Illinois Educ. Relations Bd., 734 N.E.2d 69 (Ill. App. Ct. 2000). · cites it 4× “The respondent, Chicago Teachers Union, Local 1, AFT-IFT, AFL-CIO (the Union), filed an unfair labor practice charge against the CSRBT, before the Board, alleging that the CSRBT violated sections 14(a)(5) and, derivatively, 14(a)(1) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations…”
Paxton-Buckley-Loda Educ. Ass'n v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 710 N.E.2d 538 (Ill. App. Ct. 1999). · cites it 3× “Section 14(b)(1) of the Act provides: “(b) Employee organizations, their agents or representatives or educational employees are prohibited from: (1) Restraining or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed under this Act, provided that a labor organization or…”
Bd. of Educ. of the City of Chicago v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 2015 IL 118043 (Ill. 2016). · cites it 3× “The Union alleged that the Board violated section 14(a)(1) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (Act) (115 ILCS 5/14(a)(1) (West 2010)) by refusing to arbitrate grievances.”
Midwest Cent. Educ. Ass'n v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 660 N.E.2d 151 (Ill. App. Ct. 1995). · cites it 2× “(115 ILCS 5/14(a)(8), (a)(1) (West 1992).) The District filed an answer and affirmative defenses alleging that the award was not enforceable because the arbitrator’s remedy exceeded his authority under both the agreement and the Act.”
Bloom Twp. High Sch. Dist. 206 v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 728 N.E.2d 612 (Ill. App. Ct. 2000). · cites it 3× “Dated April 21, 1997, the complaint alleges the District terminated Bove and disciplined Bates because of their Union activities and thus violated sections 14(a)(1) and (a)(3) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (the Act) (115 ILCS 5/14(a)(l), (a)(3) (West 1998)).”
Chicago Teachers Union v. Chicago Sch. Reform Bd. of Trs., 787 N.E.2d 224 (Ill. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 3× “” Under section 14 of the Act, which describes unfair labor practices, employers are prohibited from “[Refusing to comply with the provisions of a binding arbitration award” (115 ILCS 5/14(a)(8) (West 2000)) and “[i]nterfering, restraining or coercing employees in the exercise…”
Show all 75 citing cases →
— 115 ILCS 5/14(1) — 1 case
Deberry v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 2021 IL App (1st) 201127-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2021).
— 115 ILCS 5/14(a) — 1 case
Griggsville-Perry Cmty. Unit Sch. Dist. No. 4 v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 2013 IL 113721 (Ill. 2013).
— 115 ILCS 5/14(a)(1) — 45 cases
Niles Twp. High Sch. Dist. 219 v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 883 N.E.2d 29 (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). “Presiding Justice CAHILL, delivered the opinion of the court: Petitioner Niles Township High School District 219 (District) seeks direct administrative review of a decision by respondent Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB), that the District committed an unfair…”
Speed Dist. 802 v. Warning, 950 N.E.2d 1069 (Ill. 2011). “On January 8, 2008, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB or the Board) issued a decision, finding that SPEED District 802 (the District) violated section 14(a)(3) and, derivatively, section 14(a)(1) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (115 ILCS…”
Bd. of Educ. of the City of Chicago v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 2015 IL 118043 (Ill. 2016). “The Union alleged that the Board violated section 14(a)(1) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (Act) (115 ILCS 5/14(a)(1) (West 2010)) by refusing to arbitrate grievances.”
W. Illinois Univ. v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 2021 IL 126082 (Ill. 2021). “OPINION ¶1 The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (Board) found that Western Illinois University (University) committed an unfair labor practice in violation of section 14(a)(8) and, derivatively, section 14(a)(1) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (Act)…”
Bd. of Trs. v. Illinois Labor Relations Bd., 862 N.E.2d 944 (Ill. 2007). “(Ill.) par. 150. *948 The IELRB reviewed the recommended decision and adopted the ALJ's findings of fact.”
— 115 ILCS 5/14(a)(3) — 10 cases
Speed Dist. 802 v. Warning, 950 N.E.2d 1069 (Ill. 2011). “On January 8, 2008, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB or the Board) issued a decision, finding that SPEED District 802 (the District) violated section 14(a)(3) and, derivatively, section 14(a)(1) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (115 ILCS…”
Speed Dist. 802 v. Warning, 911 N.E.2d 425 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009). “" 115 ILCS 5/14 (a)(3) (West 2006). Section 14(a)(1) of the Act covers an employer's adverse action against an employee due to protected activity not necessarily involving a union.”
Pace Suburban Bus Div. of the Reg'l Transp. Auth. v. Illinois Labor Relations Bd., 942 N.E.2d 652 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010).
Thornton Fractional High Sch. Dist. No. 215 v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 936 N.E.2d 1188 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010).
Bd. of Educ., City of Peoria Sch. Dist. No. 150 v. State of Illinois Labor Relations Bd., 741 N.E.2d 690 (Ill. App. Ct. 2000).
— 115 ILCS 5/14(a)(4) — 1 case
Bd. of Educ., City of Peoria Sch. Dist. No. 150 v. State of Illinois Labor Relations Bd., 741 N.E.2d 690 (Ill. App. Ct. 2000).
— 115 ILCS 5/14(a)(5) — 17 cases
Bd. of Trs. v. Illinois Labor Relations Bd., 862 N.E.2d 944 (Ill. 2007). “(Ill.) par. 150. *948 The IELRB reviewed the recommended decision and adopted the ALJ's findings of fact.”
Chicago Sch. Reform Bd. of Trustes v. Illinois Educ. Relations Bd., 734 N.E.2d 69 (Ill. App. Ct. 2000). “The respondent, Chicago Teachers Union, Local 1, AFT-IFT, AFL-CIO (the Union), filed an unfair labor practice charge against the CSRBT, before the Board, alleging that the CSRBT violated sections 14(a)(5) and, derivatively, 14(a)(1) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations…”
Bd. of Educ. v. Sered, 850 N.E.2d 821 (Ill. App. Ct. 2006).
Bd. of Trs. of the Univ. of Illinois v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 836 N.E.2d 199 (Ill. App. Ct. 2005).
Thornton Fractional High Sch. Dist. No. 215 v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 936 N.E.2d 1188 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010).
— 115 ILCS 5/14(a)(8) — 15 cases
W. Illinois Univ. v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 2021 IL 126082 (Ill. 2021). “OPINION ¶1 The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (Board) found that Western Illinois University (University) committed an unfair labor practice in violation of section 14(a)(8) and, derivatively, section 14(a)(1) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (Act)…”
Niles Twp. High Sch. Dist. 219 v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 883 N.E.2d 29 (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). “Presiding Justice CAHILL, delivered the opinion of the court: Petitioner Niles Township High School District 219 (District) seeks direct administrative review of a decision by respondent Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB), that the District committed an unfair…”
Midwest Cent. Educ. Ass'n v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 660 N.E.2d 151 (Ill. App. Ct. 1995). “(115 ILCS 5/14(a)(8), (a)(1) (West 1992).) The District filed an answer and affirmative defenses alleging that the award was not enforceable because the arbitrator’s remedy exceeded his authority under both the agreement and the Act.”
Cent. Cmty. Unit Sch. Dist. No. 4 v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 904 N.E.2d 640 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009).
Chicago Teachers Union v. Chicago Sch. Reform Bd. of Trs., 787 N.E.2d 224 (Ill. App. Ct. 2003). “” Under section 14 of the Act, which describes unfair labor practices, employers are prohibited from “[Refusing to comply with the provisions of a binding arbitration award” (115 ILCS 5/14(a)(8) (West 2000)) and “[i]nterfering, restraining or coercing employees in the exercise…”
— 115 ILCS 5/14(a)(l) — 17 cases
Speed Dist. 802 v. Warning, 950 N.E.2d 1069 (Ill. 2011). “On January 8, 2008, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB or the Board) issued a decision, finding that SPEED District 802 (the District) violated section 14(a)(3) and, derivatively, section 14(a)(1) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (115 ILCS…”
Bd. of Trs. v. Illinois Labor Relations Bd., 862 N.E.2d 944 (Ill. 2007). “(Ill.) par. 150. *948 The IELRB reviewed the recommended decision and adopted the ALJ's findings of fact.”
Speed Dist. 802 v. Warning, 911 N.E.2d 425 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009). “" 115 ILCS 5/14 (a)(3) (West 2006). Section 14(a)(1) of the Act covers an employer's adverse action against an employee due to protected activity not necessarily involving a union.”
Bloom Twp. High Sch. Dist. 206 v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 728 N.E.2d 612 (Ill. App. Ct. 2000). “Dated April 21, 1997, the complaint alleges the District terminated Bove and disciplined Bates because of their Union activities and thus violated sections 14(a)(1) and (a)(3) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (the Act) (115 ILCS 5/14(a)(l), (a)(3) (West 1998)).”
Chicago Teachers Union v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 778 N.E.2d 1232 (Ill. App. Ct. 2002). “When the Board of Education refused to comply with the arbitration awards, the Union filed unfair labor practice charges against it, alleging that the Board of Education violated section 14(a)(8) and, derivatively, section 14(a)(1) of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations…”
— 115 ILCS 5/14(b) — 3 cases
Paxton-Buckley-Loda Educ. Ass'n v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 710 N.E.2d 538 (Ill. App. Ct. 1999). “Section 14(b)(1) of the Act provides: “(b) Employee organizations, their agents or representatives or educational employees are prohibited from: (1) Restraining or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed under this Act, provided that a labor organization or…”
Chicago Teachers Union, Local 1 Am. Fed'n of Teachers, AFL-CIO v. Bd. Of Educ. City Of Chicago (N.D. Ill. 2018).
Paxton-Buckley-Loda Educ. Ass'n v. Educ. Labor Relations Bd. (Ill. App. Ct. 1999).
— 115 ILCS 5/14(b)(1) — 2 cases
Paxton-Buckley-Loda Educ. Ass'n v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 710 N.E.2d 538 (Ill. App. Ct. 1999). “Section 14(b)(1) of the Act provides: “(b) Employee organizations, their agents or representatives or educational employees are prohibited from: (1) Restraining or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed under this Act, provided that a labor organization or…”
Paxton-Buckley-Loda Educ. Ass'n v. Educ. Labor Relations Bd. (Ill. App. Ct. 1999).
— 115 ILCS 5/14(b)(3) — 1 case
Mt. Vernon Educ. Ass'n v. Illinois Educ. Labor Relations Bd., 663 N.E.2d 1067 (Ill. App. Ct. 1996).
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