Is it discrimination for an employer to hire a union position after elimination of nonunion jobs?

The City I worked for eliminated my position as well as another non-union position due to "financial circumstances" of the City. The Mayor & Council have publically stated that the City is going to have to "do more with less" due to a $2 million budget deficit and has implemented a hiring freeze. At their next meeting, the Council is considering hiring a union position. There are two other positions currently employed in the same position and this would be a third position. (1 position is the "chief maintenance" and the other is maintenance at another plant.)

1 answer  |  asked Jul 11, 2011 07:28 AM [EST]  |  applies to Illinois

Answers (1)

John Otto
More information is needed to answer this question. Do the union and non-unions positions have the same duties? I don't see how that would be possible. If they have different duties, i.e. they terminate a non-union secretary and hire a chief maintenance employee, then, of course, it is not discrimination. Despite a general statement of having to "do more with less," the city can determine its priorities and decide it doesn't need as many secretaries, but needs more maintenance people.

posted by John Otto  |  Jul 11, 2011 08:17 AM [EST]

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