Illinois Nurses Association files grievance against state, IDOC for hiring subcontractors
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The union representing 3,600 nurses across Illinois has filed a formal complaint against the state and the Department of Corrections. This comes after IDOC hired subcontractors to fill roles that were vacant for months during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois Nurses Association says that decision left many union members out of the equation.
The Department of Central Management Services contacted INA members about this change on December 11. Within a week, contracted nurses were already in IDOC facilities. The union submitted their complaint on December 16 on behalf of registered nurses working in the facilities. They believe the state bypassed their collective bargaining agreement by hiring the subcontractors.