EMPLOYER REFUSAL TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH; DEFENSES – Past Practice; Maintenance of Status Quo

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The “dynamic status quo” principle permits an employer to make changes to terms and conditions of employment, without notice and an opportunity to bargain, if the changes follow a consistent pattern of past changes that is formulaic or otherwise not influenced by employer discretion. (p. 6.) When the status quo as to a particular employment term follows a nondiscretionary pattern of change, the employer must act in accordance with that pattern of change, and in fact commits a unilateral change if it fails to do so. (p. 7.) The parties’ rights and duties are the same regardless of whether the status quo is dynamic or static; in both instances, following or maintaining the status quo provides a defense to a unilateral change charge, but failure to follow or maintain the status quo establishes a violation, absent notice and an opportunity to bargain. (pp. 7-8.)