State found guilty of unfair labor practice (ULP) over supplemental bargaining

The Public Employment Relations Commission has found the state guilty of an unfair labor practice over supplemental bargaining in General Government.

The union last year attempted to have separate tables to bargain agency-specific issues that sometimes get pushed aside in bargaining over the full contract at the master table.

A PERC hearing examiner ruled Friday (June 3) that the state’s reluctance to bargain based on a “contentious and acrimonious” experience in previous supplemental bargaining constituted interference with employee rights. That condition amounted to a “threat or promise of benefit associated with the exercise of protected rights,” the ruling said.

Under the ruling, the state must not condition future bargaining on its previous experience bargaining with one agency.

On a second issue, the examiner ruled the state’s reluctance to bargain agency-specific issues at separate tables was not evidence of a refusal to bargain.

Each side has 20 days to appeal the ruling.