The state labor relations board has breathed new life into an eight-month fight to return some 500 fired Chicago Public Schools teachers to the classroom.

An independent arbitrator will hear a bargaining complaint filed by the Chicago Teachers Union that claims the city’s school district fired nearly 1,300 teachers in summer 2010 in direct retaliation against the union for not agreeing to cut $100 million in wages and benefits. By agreeing to hear the case, the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board reversed an earlier decision by its executive director to dismiss it.

CPS laid off the teachers, including about 750 with tenure, amid steep budget cuts last year. A majority have already been rehired by CPS or taken jobs with other school districts. But about 500 remain out of work, union officials say, fighting for substitute or temporary teaching positions that come with low pay and little job security.

The union is asking the board, which has yet to set a date for the hearing, to restore the remaining 500 teachers to jobs within CPS.

“When school systems face financial crises, systems like Chicago Public Schools need to look at teachers and staff as partners and not as adversaries,” said the union’s Jackson Potter. “We are in a sad state of affairs where that is not the case.”

The labor board’s executive director in November dismissed the union’s complaint, saying the district had complied with all state labor laws. The union appealed that dismissal to the full board, which decided to appoint an independent judge to take a closer look at the case.

CPS spokeswoman Monique Bond said Wednesday that the board’s decision to hear the case again should not be considered a victory for the union.

“It’s not a judgment on the merits of the case,” Bond said. “It simply means the teachers union has the ability to present their evidence.”

jhood@tribune.com