The Minnesota House of Representatives is taking up H.F. No. 3014 (law designed to protect public sector workers’ rights).
This bill would create a Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) under the Bureau of Mediation Services. The Board would handle Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges (listed under PELRA) administratively, replacing the current practice of handling ULP charges through the district courts. This bill would only apply to public employment—not the private sector—private sector employees are covered under the National Labor Relations Act.
PELRA (179A.13) lists unfair labor practices by employers and unions. ULP charges can be brought by unions against employers, employers against unions, or individuals against employers and/or unions. The current process of bringing charges through district court is very expensive, cumbersome and time consuming. Individuals or organizations bringing charges need to hire attorneys, and the typical cost is $50,000 to $75,000, and it can take years to get a decision. This makes the current process of going through the courts prohibitively expensive for individuals, unions, and even small public employers.
When a ULP is handled administratively, the party bringing the charges does not have to have an attorney, and typically spends around $5,000 to bring a charge. Parties bring charges do not need an attorney. In states that use an administrative system like this, most charges are either settled or dismissed for lack of merit at the investigative stage—before they even go to a hearing. The timelines are also much quicker than the district court processes.
Contact your Representatives now and tell them to support H.F. No. 3014!
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