Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Labor Relations Grievance Arbitration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
H.174 would move grievances to binding arbitration and set deadlines for unfair‑labor‑practice cases
Summary
Representative Connor Casey introduced H.174 to shift collective‑bargaining grievance resolution to binding arbitration and impose timelines for unfair‑labor‑practice cases; the bill was introduced and not acted on during the Feb. 18 hearing.
Representative Connor Casey (Montpelier) introduced H.174 on Feb. 18 to streamline Vermont’s labor‑relations processes. The bill would move contract‑grievance resolution from the Labor Relations Board to mandatory binding arbitration and would establish statutory timelines for filing responses, holding hearings and issuing decisions in unfair‑labor‑practice (ULP) cases.
Casey said the change is intended to reduce the backlog at the Vermont Labor Relations Board, producing faster, final outcomes for employees and employers. He said mandatory binding arbitration would replace a process that currently allows varied paths and can leave disputes unresolved for extended periods.
Committee members asked procedural questions about whether arbitration would be mandatory in all cases or remain optional; counsel indicated that the bill would remove the existing choice and make arbitration the final step in grievance disputes. The committee took no vote on H.174 during the Feb. 18 meeting and will schedule the bill for further discussion.
Ending H.174 was introduced for committee consideration; stakeholders including labor unions and employer groups will have opportunity to comment in future hearings.
