Opinion ID: 2196341
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Preponderance of Employment Time Performing Supervisory Functions

Text: The fourth prong of the supervisory definition specifies that the alleged supervisor must spend the preponderance of his employment time exercising supervisory authority. The Board has interpreted the term preponderance to mean that the most significant allotment of the employee's time must be spent exercising supervisory functions. ( Secretary of State, 1 Pub. Employee Rep. (Ill.) par. 2009, at 55 (ISLRB 1985).) In other words, the employee must spend more time on supervisory functions than on any one nonsupervisory function. ( Secretary of State, 1 Pub. Employee Rep. (Ill.) par. 2009, at 55 (ISLRB 1985).) In this case, the evidence demonstrates that the lieutenants rarely exercise their authority to suspend or discipline firefighters. It is therefore clear that the lieutenants do not spend more time exercising this authority than they devote to any other function. The lieutenants therefore do not satisfy the fourth prong of the supervisory definition. Because the lieutenants of the Wheeling fire department do not satisfy all four prongs of the statutory definition, we must conclude that they are not supervisors within the meaning of the Act. Accordingly, they were appropriately included in the bargaining unit. The appellate court decision affirming the Board's order finding the Village guilty of an unfair labor practice is therefore affirmed. In sum, in Nos. 67147 and 67152 we hold that the ranking officers of the Freeport police department are supervisors and affirm the decision of the appellate court, which reversed the Board's order finding the City of Freeport to be guilty of an unfair labor practice. In No. 67181, we hold that the lieutenants of the Wheeling fire department are not supervisors and affirm the appellate court decision finding the Village of Wheeling guilty of an unfair labor practice. Judgments affirmed.