Opinion ID: 2679987
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Board Jurisdiction

Text: [¶9] Initially, we address the challenge to the Board’s jurisdiction.4 The Maine Municipal Association argues that the Board lacks jurisdiction to resolve a grievance involving a static status quo issue unless and until an arbitration of the grievance has begun. MMA’s argument is that the Board acted ultra vires because “the action itself is beyond the jurisdiction or authority of the administrative body to act.” Sold, Inc. v. Town of Gorham, 2005 ME 24, ¶ 12, 868 A.2d 172. 2 Although this paragraph was amended after the City petitioned for review, see P.L. 2011, ch. 559, § A-26 (effective Aug. 30, 2012), the amendment did not alter the right to petition in any way of consequence to this appeal, and we cite to the current statute. 3 Neither party requested an expedited process. 4 The jurisdictional issue was raised by the amicus curiae. Because the question relates to the Board’s jurisdiction and authority to act, we address the question despite a lack of full briefing by the parties themselves. See Sold, Inc. v. Town of Gorham, 2005 ME 24, ¶ 12, 868 A.2d 172; D’Amato v. S.D. Warren Co., 2003 ME 116, ¶ 19 n.5, 832 A.2d 794; see also M.R. App. P. 4(d). 6 [¶10] Specifically, MMA contends that the Board is authorized to consider static status quo issues only pursuant to the statute entitled, “Continuation of grievance arbitration provisions”: If a contract between a public employer and a bargaining agent signed after October 1, 2005 expires prior to the parties’ agreement on a new contract, the grievance arbitration provisions of the expired contract remain in effect until the parties execute a new contract. In any arbitration that is conducted pursuant to this subsection, an arbitrator shall apply only those provisions enforceable by virtue of the static status quo doctrine and may not add to, restrict or modify the applicable static status quo following the expiration of the contract unless the parties have otherwise agreed in the collective bargaining agreement. All such grievances that are appealed to arbitration are subject exclusively to the grievance and arbitration process contained in the expired agreement, and the board does not have jurisdiction over such grievances. The arbitrator’s determination is subject to appeal, pursuant to the Uniform Arbitration Act. Disputes over which provisions in an expired contract are enforceable by virtue of the static status quo doctrine first must be resolved by the board, subject to appeal pursuant to applicable law. The grievance arbitration is stayed pending resolution of this issue by the board. The board may adopt rules as necessary to establish a procedure to implement the intent of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. Nothing in this subsection expands, limits or modifies the scope of any grievance arbitration provisions, including procedural requirements. 26 M.R.S. § 964-A(2) (emphasis added). According to MMA, when no arbitration grievance has been brought, the Board lacks the authority to “first” resolve “[d]isputes over which provisions in an expired contract are enforceable by virtue of the static status quo doctrine.” Id. 7 [¶11] MMA’s argument overlooks the language of the statute that brought this issue before the Board: 26 M.R.S. § 968(5)(A) (2012), which empowers the Board “to prevent . . . any public employer . . . from engaging in any of the prohibited acts enumerated in section 964.” Section 968 authorizes a public employee organization or bargaining agent such as the union in this matter to file a complaint alleging a prohibited practice. 26 M.R.S. § 968(5)(B) (2012). After hearing and argument, if the Board finds by a preponderance of the evidence that “any party named in the complaint has engaged in or is engaging in any such prohibited practice,” the Board may enter an order requiring that party to “cease and desist from such prohibited practice.” 26 M.R.S. § 968(5)(C) (2012). [¶12] Here, when the Board became aware of the issue regarding the continuity of retiree health insurance benefits during the course of a prohibited practice complaint, it ordered briefing and argument on the issue, and it entered a decision on the matter. Given the broad language of section 968(5)(A) and (B), the Board acted within its jurisdiction and authority in addressing the reach of the static status quo as a part of the prohibited practice proceeding before it. See COLT, 659 A.2d at 845-46 (interpreting a comparable statute governing labor relations in the University of Maine System to require a static status quo enforceable by the Board). The Board is the proper entity to rule on questions 8 about whether a particular provision in an expired collective bargaining agreement remains in force due to the static status quo doctrine.5