Decision 0995S – State of California (Department of Personnel Administration) (California State Employees Association)

The unambiguous terms of the parties' ground rules lead to the conclusion that the state has agreed to released time only for negotiating sessions; p. 7. Temporarily authorizing a higher level of released time than that required by the negotiated ground rules does not create an obligation to continue to do so indefinitely; p. 8. Union's bargaining team received reasonable released time because it was far in excess of that received in previous negotiations or in accordance with, and in excess of, the ground rules which it negotiated with the state; p. 9.

Ground rule agreements represent a contractual obligation for purposes of determining whether a unilateral change from them constitutes a violation; p. 6. The unambiguous terms of the parties' ground rules lead to the conclusion that the state has agreed to released time only for negotiating sessions; p. 7. Temporarily authorizing a higher level of released time than that required by the negotiated ground rules does not create an obligation to continue to do so indefinitely; p. 8.

Temporarily authorizing a higher level of released time than that required by the negotiated ground rules does not create an obligation to continue to do so indefinitely; p. 8.