Probation officers, supervisors and support staff of the 20th Judicial Circuit Court Services and Probation have voted to file an intent to strike after working without a contract since December of 2016.
According to a written statement from Paul Sullivan, Council President of the probation officers union, the officers and the staff made the decision due to the St. Clair County Board's defunding of their vital services, and the Chief Judge's refusal to allow a third-party arbitrator to settle the contract.
Sullivan says the underfunding and understaffing of the probation department has led to officers supervising caseloads that are 2-3 times the size recommended by the Illinois Supreme Court. The union is urging the Chief Judge to come back to the table.
The union serves probation officers, supervisors and support staff in Perry, Randolph, Washington, St. Clair and Monroe counties.