Labor Relations and Federal Policy Impacts on Higher Education Institutions in Illinois

Mr. Victor Blackwell, JD Related Seminars and Products

Executive Director

Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board

Victor E. Blackwell was appointed Executive Director of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board in February 1996. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Blackwell served as Chief of Prosecutions at the Illinois Department of Professional Regulations for five years. He was also Chicago Personnel Manager for the Illinois Secretary of State from 1987 to 1991. He was Personnel Analyst for the Illinois Secretary of State, an Adjudicator for the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services, and a Securities Legal Intern and Reference Library Intern for the Illinois Secretary of State. Mr. Blackwell received his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola University's School of Law where he graduated with honors, and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois in Political Science with triple minors in Economics, Sociology and Spanish.

Nicholas Christen Related Seminars and Products

General Counsel & Director of Field and Organizing

Illinois Federation of Teachers

Nicholas Christen is the General Counsel and Director of Field and Organizing at the Illinois Federation of Teachers. He advises leaders and staff on issues affecting the 100,000+ members of the union, including collective bargaining, organizing, discipline, discrimination, organizing, healthcare, and retirement. Nicholas has successfully advocated before private and public sector labor boards, resolved difficult legislative and administrative roadblocks impacting workers’ rights, led negotiations for units large and small in high-stakes negotiations, and advocated for union members from the shop floor to the Court of Appeals. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations. He received his B.A. in Political Science from Miami University and his J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law.

Robb Craddock Related Seminars and Products

Executive Director

University of Illinois

Robb B. Craddock currently serves as Executive Director of Labor and Employee Relations within Illinois Human Resources at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In this role, Mr. Craddock acts as the University’s chief labor relations spokesperson and oversees the administration of 18 collective bargaining agreements covering Civil Service employees and 4 agreements covering Academic employees. He also represents the Chancellor and Provost in grievance proceedings.

Prior to joining the University of Illinois, Mr. Craddock served as Deputy Director of Labor Relations for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) from September 2008 to January 2015. In that capacity, he managed labor relations on behalf of the Office of the Governor, representing the largest employer in the State of Illinois. His work involved negotiations with a broad range of labor unions, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Teamsters, and various trade unions.  In 2019, Mr. Craddock returned to CMS in collaboration with the University of Illinois to serve as Chief Labor Relations Negotiator and Executive Branch Labor Relations Advisor. During this tenure, he successfully negotiated a resolution with AFSCME Council 31, concluding a four-year labor dispute. In October 2013, Mr. Craddock accepted the James Baird Leadership Award on behalf of CMS, presented by the Illinois Public Employer Labor Relations Association (IPELRA). This annual award recognizes outstanding leadership and achievement in public sector labor relations in Illinois.

Mr. Craddock is an active member of the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association and serves on the board of IPELRA. He holds a Master of Public Administration with a graduate certificate in Public Sector Labor Relations from the University of Illinois at Springfield, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Western Illinois University