'Blatant Union-Busting Tactic': Arlington Heights Police File Lawsuit Against Village

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — In response to a new ordinance passed last month it claims "unlawfully strips police sergeants of their fundamental labor rights," a group of Arlington Heights police officers has a filed a lawsuit against the Village. The lawsuit was filed jointly Tuesday by three police officers and the Metropolitan Alliance of Police, a labor union based out of Bolingbrook.

At the Nov. 17 Village Board meeting, trustees approved an ordinance on the consent agenda to give the village manager authority over promotions for sergeants, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Currently, the village manager handles promotions for police chief, deputy chief and commander. Per his own request, trustee Bill Manganaro refrained from voting on the ordinance, and trustee Thomas Schwingbeck was not in attendance.

The ordinance eliminates the longstanding written test requirement for promotion by sergeants, along with appointments being handled by the independent board of fire and police commissioners. It also states sergeant appointments can only be filled by a current member of the Arlington Heights Police Department, and from the rank of patrol officer.

The lawsuit contends that the Village rewrote its merit-based promotion system in response to a state law (SB1701) passed in August that stipulates a "police officer who is in a rank for which the police officer must complete a written test" is not classified as a supervisor. According to the Metropolitan Alliance of Police, Arlington Heights sergeants were pursuing their union rights under the new state law, which made them eligible to form one.

"Manipulating the promotion system to strip officers of their constitutional rights is both unlawful and unacceptable," said Keith George, president of MAP, which represents more than 5,000 law enforcement officers and public safety employees throughout the state. "Arlington Heights calculated maneuver was never about efficiency, fairness, or public safety; rather, it was a blatant union-busting tactic designed to silence the voices of those entrusted with protecting our community."

The Village of Arlington Heights tells Patch it has no comment on the lawsuit at this time.

According to the lawsuit, the Village of Arlington Heights violated the Illinois Constitution (Article 1, Section 25 - Workers' Rights Amendment) with the passage of the ordinance.

"Through this lawsuit, we intend to make clear that no municipality has the authority to undermine the constitution or retaliate against officers who choose to organize," George said.