Opinion ID: 1201902
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: ruling of the public employees relations board

Text: The Public Employees Relation Board (Board) held a hearing on the Unions' complaint. It issued findings of fact and conclusions of law along with an opinion and a Cease and Desist Order as follows: The City of Tulsa is hereby ordered, pursuant to 11 O.S.Supp. 1985, § 51-104b(C) and consonant with the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Opinion entered herein, to cease and desist from: 1. Refusing to negotiate collectively in good faith with Local 176 and Lodge 93 concerning the terms and conditions of employment of the firefighters and police officers in the respective bargaining units. 2. Unilaterally altering, or threatening to unilaterally alter, any and all terms and conditions of employment of its firefighters and police officers during the course of collective negotiations with Local 176 and Lodge 93; 3. Refusing to discuss grievances in good faith, including the refusal to participate in mandatory grievance arbitration. The Board, relying mainly on federal law, held that the City committed unfair labor practices, as defined by 11 O.S. 1981, § 51-102(6a)(1) and (5), § 51-102(5), and § 51-111. [2] The City then appealed this ruling to the district court which, for the most part, affirmed the Board's holding. From this, the City appealed to this Court. Amicus briefs have been received from the Oklahoma Municipal League, the City of Nichols Hills, the City of Sapulpa, the Professional Firefighters of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police. In making this ruling, the Board purported to base its decision on theories and statutes other than the Evergreen statute, 11 O.S.Supp. 1988, § 51-105, which would appear to extend an expired contract until a new agreement is reached. Apparently the Board wished to avoid the question of the clause's constitutionality. Instead, the Board adopted the dynamic status quo principle, a concept which imposes upon the employer the duty to abide by the terms of the expired contract until a new one is agreed upon. See Reed Seismic Co. v. NLRB, 440 F.2d 598, 601 (5th Cir.1971). The Board, citing authority from other jurisdictions, held that the duty to bargain in good faith carried with it the duty of payment of automatic merit increases during the interim between the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement and pending the negotiation of a new agreement. On appeal the District Court substantially upheld the ruling of the Board, specifically stating that a resolution of the constitutionality of the Evergreen clause was unnecessary. The court also pointed out that the Board was without authority to mandate back pay, but may order that conduct occurring from the time of the order be halted. The court agreed that unfair labor practices were committed under Sections 51-102(5), (6a)(1) and (6a)(5) and Section 51-111.