CASE PROCESSING PROCEDURES; DEFERRAL TO ARBITRATION – Post Arbitration; Repugnancy

Single Topic for Decision 2082E

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EERA section 3541.5 sets forth PERB’s jurisdiction and authority to determine whether or not charges of unfair practices are justified. Section 3541.5(a)(2) addresses PERB’s authority relative to matters also covered by collective bargaining agreements between the parties, and provides that PERB may review an arbitration decision resulting from the parties’ grievance/arbitration process, to determine whether it is repugnant to the purposes of EERA. However, PERB’s authority remains limited to the issuance of a complaint that alleges respondent engaged in conduct that violates EERA. EERA does not provide for an independent de novo review of third-party arbitration decisions. A charge based solely on a claim that a third-party arbitration decision is repugnant cannot stand on its own and is insufficient to state a prima facie case for violation of EERA. Here the District’s charge sought a repugnancy review of an arbitration between the parties, however, it did not allege conduct by the Respondent/Federation that violated EERA and therefore did not establish a prima facie case against the respondent for violation of the Act.