Opinion ID: 1752661
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Legislative and administrative interpretations of the statute.

Text: See decision in Greg J. Sertich, St. Louis County Sheriff, Duluth, Minnesota, and St. Louis County Board of Commissioners, Duluth, Minnesota, and National Association of Police Officers, Local 159, Duluth, Minnesota, Case No. 77-P.R.-740-A, Bureau of Mediation Services State of Minnesota, dated at St. Paul, Mn. February 16, 1978, which holds that the County Board of Commissioners is the public employer of all county employees in the County of St. Louis for the purpose of the definition of public employer under Minn.Stat. 179.63, Subd. 4, and in addition the decision deals with the practicality of such decision as it applies to the office of the Sheriff of St. Louis County. Thus, the Court determines that Minn. Stat. 179.63, Subd. 4 modifies the application of Minn.Stat. 387.14 to the extent that where the Pope County Deputy Sheriffs Association had a collective bargaining agreement with the County Board of Pope County in respect to the discharge of deputies and which agreement was pursuant to Minn.Stat. 179.61 to 179.77, the discharge of a deputy must be in accordance with such collective bargaining agreement. This conclusion is based upon the following: 1. The general stated policy of Public Employees Labor Relations Act of 1971 as amended. 2. Minn.Stat. 645.26, Subd. 4. 3. The manifest intention of the legislature under Minn.Stat. 645.26, Subd. 1. 4. The legislative intent in respect to Minn.Stat. 179.63, Subd. 4, as determined under Minn.Stat. 645.16, ¶ 1 through ¶ 8. 5. Such interpretation construes both Minn.Stat. 387.14 and Minn.Stat. 179.63, Subd. 4 as required by Minn.Stat. 645.26, Subd. 1 so as to give effect to both statutes under circumstances intended by the legislature. The defendant Ochocki asserts unfair labor practices against the County of Pope by permitting discharge of Ochocki without cause and not agreeing to arbitrate the discharge in accordance with the January 8 collective bargaining agreement. In this respect, on May 12, 1980 defendant Ochocki requested binding arbitration by letter to the Pope County Commissioners. On May 13, 1980 defendant Ochocki filed a Petition for Mediation with the Bureau of Mediation Services. The Bureau of Mediation Services cancelled the mediation meeting schedule for June 6, 1980 on the grounds that the matter was outside the scope of its jurisdiction. On May 21, 1980, eight days after Ochocki's request for arbitration, the County of Pope commenced the present action to determine the issues involved. In that the Court has determined that the discharge of Ochocki is arbitrable under Article XII, section 12.8 of the January 8, 1980 agreement, the only issue to determine is whether the County of Pope committed unfair labor practices by refusing to arbitrate. The Supreme Court in Minnesota Education Association vs. Independent School District 495, 290 N.W.2d 627, 631 (Minn.1980), commented as follows: Plaintiffs agree that the school district's refusal to submit their grievances to arbitration constituted an unfair labor practice under PELRA, regardless of the school district's good faith or lack thereof. As we noted in State vs. Berthiaume, 259 N.W.2d 904, 909, (Minn.1977), PELRA and the Uniform Arbitration Act are to be construed as consistent with each other. A finding that the school district's refusal to arbitrate constitutes an unfair labor practice would chill rights granted under the Uniform Arbitration Act to contest the arbitrability initially in court. (Underlining by Court). Considering the voluminous briefs submitted by the various parties in this matter and the contents thereof, together with the state of the law in respect to the issues involved herein, it cannot be said that the question of whether or not arbitration was required under the January 8, 1980 labor agreement was clear and convincing; thus the County of Pope had the right to have such issue determined as a matter of law prior to arbitrating the issue, and should not be penalized for its rightful resort to the courts for the determination of such issue. Dated: December 31, 1980 s/ Thomas J. Stahler JUDGE