The question of whether talks between Governor Bruce Rauner's administration and the state's largest union AFSCME have reached an impasse is in the hands of the state's labor relations board.
The labor board regularly considers questions like this one. Is there a legitimate impasse? Have a public employer and a workers' union been bargaining in good faith?
"We get those types of charges. I guess ... what makes this one noteworthy for a lot of people is who the parties are and the fact that this particular bargaining unit is so large, and covers so many people."
That's the labor relations board director, Melissa Mlynski. To her point, AFSCME's bargaining on behalf of about 36,000 government employees. The union's protesting Rauner's contention that talks should end.
If the labor board sides with Rauner, it could force AFSCME into accepting a new contract they consider unfair or lead them to strike.
But that's a ways off. First, there's an investigation, potentially a hearing, possibly followed by an appeal. It'll take weeks, at least.
