EMPLOYER REFUSAL TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH; NEGOTIATIONS; INDICIA OF SURFACE OR BAD FAITH BARGAINING; TOTALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES – In General

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Surface bargaining allegation is reasonably contemplated within complaint’s allegations of bad faith bargaining. The City was therefore not denied due process by conclusion it had engaged in surface bargaining. Where the City had presented its LBFO, and the Association asked for further negotiations, the City was clearly on notice of what the Association wanted to bargain about and cannot claim that the Association had a duty in this circumstance to identify the subjects it wanted to bargain about. Economic exigency does not suspend the duty to bargain in good faith. Nor is an employer’s deadline, such as the beginning of a budget year or the expiration of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), an excuse to avoid bargaining in good faith. The City was not justified in its rush to conclude bargaining, declare impasse and impose its LBFO prior to its adoption of its budget, especially where city council extended budget deadline. Budget exigencies may have consequences on an employer’s proposals, but do not suspend the duty to meet and confer in good faith.