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The Illinois General Assembly overwhelmingly passed resolutions urging the state high court to allow its own court reporters one of the basic rights guaranteed to all other state workersthe right to organize.

By a vote of 113-2, the non-binding state House of Representatives resolution encouraged the state Supreme Court justices to recognize IBEW Chicago Local 1220 as the court reporters designated bargaining representative. A similar measure passed by voice vote in the Illinois Senate in late May.

In testimony before a Senate committee before that vote, Local 1220 Business Manager Donald Brandon appealed to the legislators sense of fairness on behalf of 500 court reporters, who are seeking voluntary recognition by the court.

"The overwhelming majority by which the court reporters selected the IBEW can only help convince the Supreme Court of the sincerity and strength of their desire for representation," Brandon said. "Today I ask you to listen to your hearts and stand strong for the integrity of Illinois."

The resolutions acknowledged the difficult working conditions the court reporters have endured due to a prolonged hiring freeze. They also recognized that public policy of the state explicitly grants state workers collective bargaining rights under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.

"State employees have these rights," said Local 1220 Business Agent Mike Donovan. "Its up to the Supreme Court to follow the law."

The local will continue mounting a public awareness campaign within the legal and union community, Donovan said.

In July 2001, Local 1220 formally requested voluntary recognition or a secret ballot election. The court rejected the request, responding with an offer to have a neutral third party verify the locals claim of majority status.

Five months later, the state Department of Labor certified the IBEW had 372 signatures, the vast majority of the bargaining unit, Donovan said. But the court rejected that too. He said the court justices are worried about the possibility of the state Public Employees Relations Board asserting jurisdiction over the court.

The court has a history of successfully fighting efforts by the court reporters to unionize. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees made an attempt in the mid-1980s. In 1992, the court reporters tried again with an unsuccessful attempt by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.