Opinion ID: 2606328
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Breach of Oral Agreement

Text: During initial negotiations Victor Smedstad represented the Association. Negotiations between Smedstad and Pasco City Attorney Greg Rubstello took place in August and September 1992. A significant issue at these meetings was whether the parties would change the forum for appeal of disciplinary actions. The Association wished to allow employees the option of pursuing appeals of disciplinary actions to either the civil service commission, as was currently embodied in the agreement, or to grievance arbitration. After the meeting on September 22 Smedstad informed Rubstello that the Association would go with civil service protections, i.e., retain the current language in the collective bargaining agreement. RP at 48, 113. On October 1, 1992 Rubstello forwarded a written agreement memorializing the September 22 consensus to Smedstad. After hearing no reply, Rubstello finally called Smedstad's firm, which informed him that Smedstad had left the firm. Rubstello then spoke with James Cline of the same firm, who informed him he was the new chief negotiator for the Association. When Cline and Rubstello finally met on November 10, 1992, Cline disavowed what Rubstello considered to have been the tentative agreement concerning the grievance procedure. The parties then filed a request for mediation with PERC. After two mediation sessions Rubstello requested the mediator declare an impasse and forward the open issues to the PERC executive director for certification of interest arbitration. The Association appealed to the examiner instead.