by Brian J. Kurtz

On what should have been the second Wednesday of the school year, Chicago teachers ended their strike against the city and returned to work. The bitter dispute brought national attention to Chicago and to the issue of education reform. The last teachers strike in Chicago took place 25 years ago. Apparently, a lot of acrimony can build up over a quarter century. So was it worth it? Who won? These questions are far more simple than their answers.

The final version of the three-year contract is reportedly still being drafted, so all the details are not yet public. As we wrote last week, the two biggest issues were the city’s proposed teacher evaluation system and whether laid-off teachers would have automatic recall to vacancies at other schools. Information published by the parties themselves and reports in the media suggest — not surprisingly — that neither side got everything it wanted in the negotiations.

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By Steve Brenneman

Illinois has joined a growing trend to protect workers from employers that want access to their Facebook or other social networking accounts. On August 1, Governor Pat Quinn signed into law an amendment to the Illinois Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act.

Under the law, which is effective January 1, 2013, it will be unlawful for any employer to request or require an employee or prospective employee to provide any password or other related account information to gain access to the employee’s/applicant’s account or profile on a social networking website. Similarly, the law bars employers from demanding access in any manner to such information.

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by Steve Brenneman

Effective January 1, 2011, Illinois employers will have yet another restriction on their ability to make employment decisions. A new law will prohibit many employers from basing hiring, promotion, and other employment decisions on an employee or job applicant’s credit history.

The Employee Credit Privacy Act (HB 4658), which was signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn yesterday, also forbids employers from inquiring about or obtaining a copy of an applicant or employee’s credit history or credit report. Illinois joins Washington, Hawaii, Oregon, and Louisiana in prohibiting the use of credit histories in employment decisions.

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