Home   Human Resources, Bureau Of  Shakman Information



Shakman Information

..  
Untitled Page

Uniform Political Contact Log

On April 18, 2011, Cook County Board and Forest Preserve District Board President, Toni Preckwinkle along with Independent Inspector General, Patrick Blanchard; Cook County Compliance Administrator, Mary Robinson; and Forest Preserve District of Cook County Compliance Administrator, Jan Carlson announced the introduction and distribution of a uniform Political Contact Log to employees under the jurisdiction of the County Board President, the Cook County Health and Hospitals System (“Health System”) and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (“District”).  
In order to further the goal of eliminating unlawful political discrimination in government and to foster a transparent, honest and fair employment process, Cook County, District and the Health System wish to reaffirm their joint goal of eliminating unlawful political discrimination and to remind County and District employees and officials of their obligations to log certain political contacts and to use the Political Log when documenting certain political contacts.  President Preckwinkle, is committed to upholding the prohibition against politically-related persons and organizations influencing or attempting to influence employment actions involving employees deemed “non-exempt” for purposes of this prohibition.  See the links below to read the Letter to Employees and to download a copy of the Political Contact Log. 
 

Letter to Employees regarding Uniform Political Contact Log (PDF)

 

Political Contact Log (PDF)

 

 

Overview

October 28, 1969, a lawsuit entitled Michael Shakman, et al. v. Democratic Organization of Cook County, et al., No. 69 C 2145 (N.D. Ill.) was filed seeking the court to prohibit Cook County and the Board of Commissioners of Cook County ("County Board"), among other defendants, from conditioning, basing or affecting any term or aspect of governmental employment upon or because of any political reason or factor.

 

On May 5, 1972 and January 7, 1994, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois entered Consent Judgments with respect to, among others, the County and County Board, prohibiting the conditioning, basing or affecting any term or aspect of governmental employment upon or because of any political reason or factor. Those Judgments provided that the Court retained jurisdiction with respect to, among other matters, issues of political hiring and the designation of a number of positions which should be exempt from the prohibitions established under the Consent Judgments.

 

On November 29, 2006, the Board of Commissioners of Cook County agreed to the entry of a Supplemental Relief Order (SRO) by the District Court. On December 7, 2006, the court entered an order (Preliminary Approval Order) preliminarily approving the Supplemental Relief Order agreed to by the plaintiffs and Cook County. The District Court approved the SRO at the hearing held on February 2, 2007

 

Executive Order

Executive Order 2008-1 ("Order"), signed by President Todd H. Stroger on September 2, 2008, expressly prohibits retaliation against individuals complaining to, cooperating with, or assisting the Compliance Administrator in an investigation conducted by her in the performance of her court-appointed duties. The Order further prohibits retaliation against individuals who have received a notice of finding and/or award by the Compliance Administrator as a result of her adjudication of complaints of unlawful political discrimination.

The Order also prohibits retaliation against individuals for complaining to, cooperating with, or assisting the Independent Inspector General (IIG) in investigating allegations of unlawful political discrimination. The Order confirms that anyone engaging in retaliation is subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of their employment. Furthermore, any County employee who becomes aware of such retaliation is required to report such to the IIG without undue delay.

For a full copy of Executive Order 2008-1
Executive Order 2008-1
("cc_shakman_execorder_2008.pdf" - 125 KB)
 

 

Supplemental Order

If the Supplemental Relief Order receives final approval by the court, the legal rights of class members will be affected. Please refer to the Supplemental Relief Order and Notice of Public Hearing for further information.
The District Court approved the SRO at the hearing held on February 2, 2007
Executed Supplemental Order
("cc_shakman_supporder_11-06.pdf" - 1.2 MB)
 

Prohibition of Unlawful Political Discrimination Training Presentation - Revised April 18, 2011

All employees and applicants should review the Prohibition of Unlawful Political Discrimination training presentation revised on April 18, 2011.  The training presentation provides a historical perspective, addresses the prohibition of unlawful political discrimination and retaliation, duties to report, the certification process, logging of certain political contacts and enforcement.   

Prohibition of Unlawful Political Discrimination Training Presentation
(Unlawful Political Discrimination Training PPT - 4-2011 - 1 MB)

 

November 9, 2010 and December 2, 2010 Agreed Court Order: Shakman Exempt List

On November 9, 2010 an agreed Order was executed by the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois and further amended on December 2, 1010.  The Orders designate a number of positions in Cook County as Shakman exempt and further list the group of positions that were additionally proposed as exempt and remain in dispute.  The Orders provide information as to which positions may need to be further addressed at a later date and lists those positions which remain exempt from the prohibition on the use of political considerations set forth in the 1994 Decree and Supplemental Relief Order, and may be discharged for political reasons or factors. 
 

Shakman Exempt List Modifications

On March 10, 2011 the Cook County Shakman Exempt List was further amended by an agreed Order executed by the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois.  Please referrer back to this web-site for updates to the County’s Exempt List as approved by the Court.

Shakman Agreed Order and Revised Exempt List - March 10, 2011


November 9, 2010 Orders

Shakman Agreed Order - November 9, 2010

Shakman Agreed Order - Exhibit A (1.3 MB)

Shakman Agreed Order - Exhibit B

Shakman Agreed Order - Exhibit Groups 1-6 (2.9 MB)

 

December 2, 2010 Orders

Shakman Agreed Order - Amending Various Exhibits from the 11.9.2010 Agreed Order

Shakman Agreed Order - Exhibit A Exempt List (3 MB)

Shakman Agreed Order - Exhibit B Disputed Positions

Shakman Agreed Order - Exhibit Groups 1-3 (4.5 MB)

For More Information

You may obtain a copy of the SRO and other related forms from the County website at www.co.cook.il.us (on this page) and from the Shakman Compliance Administrator’s website at www.countyshakman.com

You can also obtain copies from:
  • Lisa Meador, counsel for Cook County, State's Attorney's Office
    500 Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago, IL 60602
  • Roger Fross, counsel for the plaintiff classes, Lord, Bissell & Brook LLP
    111 South Wacker Drive, Suite 4100, Chicago, Illinois 60606
  • Mary Robinson, Shakman Compliance Administrator
    69 W. Washington, Suite 1416, Chicago, IL 60602

 

Human Resources, Bureau Of
Agency Contact Information Portlet  
Contact Information
Contact Information

Bureau Name:

Office of the President

Main Office:

118 North Clark Street
Room # 834
Chicago, Illinois 60602

Telephone: (312)603-3300

Director:
 Maureen T. O’Donnell, Bureau Chief

Hours: M-F: 8.30AM-4.30PM; Sat-Sun: Closed