EMPLOYER REFUSAL TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH; DEFENSES – Exhaustion of Impasse Procedures or Time Between Impasse and Mediation

Single Topic for Decision 2102S

View all topics for Decision 2102S

Full Decision Text (click on the link to view): Full Text

Employer’s denial of union’s requests to bargain over successor memorandum of understanding following employer’s post-impasse implementation of last, best and final offer (LBFO) did not constitute bad faith bargaining. Employer had no duty to bargain at the time the requests were made because impasse had not been broken by changed circumstances. Union’s bargaining requests did not contain a concession from its earlier bargaining position indicating agreement might be possible. Legislature’s failure to approve economic items of LBFO, Governor’s declaration of fiscal emergency and employer’s withdrawal of implementation of second and third year economic items did not constitute changed circumstances.