EMPLOYER REFUSAL TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH; NEGOTIATIONS; INDICIA OF SURFACE OR BAD FAITH BARGAINING; TOTALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES – Lack of Sufficient Authority

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606.00000 – EMPLOYER REFUSAL TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH; NEGOTIATIONS; INDICIA OF SURFACE OR BAD FAITH BARGAINING; TOTALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES
606.18000 – Lack of Sufficient Authority

Section 3505.1 allows a union to bring an unfair practice charge alleging that a governing body evidenced bad faith in rejecting a tentative agreement. Such a rejection, like a union membership vote to reject a tentative agreement, does not excuse either party from the duty to refrain from vesting negotiators with insufficient authority and/or engaging in regressive bargaining— indicia of bad faith that can co-occur. If an employer or union fails to obtain ratification, the requirements of good faith bargaining remain the same: A party’s subsequent less favorable offer generally evidences regressive bargaining and/or a failure to vest negotiators with sufficient authority, unless accompanied by a credible, rationally supported explanation of changed economic circumstances sufficient to support the change in position. Alternatively, a party may withdraw concessions on some subjects, while offering more favorable terms on others, if done as part of a genuine attempt to reach an overall compromise.