(a) Municipal employers or their representatives or agents are prohibited from: (1) Interfering, restraining or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in section 7-468; (2) dominating or interfering with the formation, existence or administration of any employee organization; (3) discharging or otherwise discriminating against an employee because he has signed or filed any affidavit, petition or complaint or given any information or testimony under sections 7-467 to 7-477, inclusive; (4) refusing to bargain collectively in good faith with an employee organization which has been designated in accordance with the provisions of said sections as the exclusive representative of employees in an appropriate unit; (5) refusing to discuss grievances with the representatives of an employee organization designated as the exclusive representative in an appropriate unit in accordance with the provisions of said sections; (6) refusing to comply with a grievance settlement, or arbitration settlement, or a valid award or decision of an arbitration panel or arbitrator rendered in accordance with the provisions of section 7-472.
(b) Employee organizations or their agents are prohibited from: (1) Restraining or coercing (A) employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in subsection (a) of section 7-468, and (B) a municipal employer in the selection of his representative for purposes of collective bargaining or the adjustment of grievances; (2) refusing to bargain collectively in good faith with a municipal employer, if it has been designated in accordance with the provisions of sections 7-467 to 7-477, inclusive, as the exclusive representative of employees in an appropriate unit; (3) breaching their duty of fair representation pursuant to section 7-468; (4) refusing to comply with a grievance settlement, or arbitration settlement, or a valid award or decision of an arbitration panel or arbitrator rendered in accordance with the provisions of section 7-472.
(c) For the purposes of said sections, to bargain collectively is the performance of the mutual obligation of the municipal employer or his designated representatives and the representative of the employees to meet at reasonable times, including meetings appropriately related to the budget-making process, and confer in good faith with respect to wages, hours and other conditions of employment, or the negotiation of an agreement, or any question arising thereunder, and the execution of a written contract incorporating any agreement reached if requested by either party, but such obligation shall not compel either party to agree to a proposal or require the making of a concession.
(February, 1965, P.A. 159, S. 4; P.A. 75-189, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-426, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 75-189 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to prohibit refusing to comply terms of settlements, awards and decisions; P.A. 93-426 inserted new Subsec. (b)(3) to prohibit an employee organization which represents municipal employees from breaching its duty of fair representation to its members and redesignated existing Subdiv. (3) as (4).
Cited. 154 C. 530. Plaintiff union's appeal from defendant labor relations board properly dismissed by Superior Court where there was no evidence that municipality engaged in unfair labor practices claimed in union's complaint. 159 C. 46. Cited. 171 C. 345, 349; Id., 347, 564; 175 C. 349. Standing to test constitutionality of binding arbitration provisions of Municipal Employees Relations Act discussed. 181 C. 421. Cited. 182 C. 93; 185 C. 88; 196 C. 192; 200 C. 38; 201 C. 577; 204 C. 746; 205 C. 116; 210 C. 549; 212 C. 294; 215 C. 14; 221 C. 244; 225 C. 297; 234 C. 123.
Cited. 3 CA 1; 16 CA 232; 33 CA 541.
A public announcement of plaintiff's intention to file a prohibited practice complaint against a union is protected by the Municipal Employees Relations Act when the complaint is actually filed at a later date. 31 CS 7. The clause in a contract between a municipality and its firemen which gives the firemen parity with police is a restraint upon and interference with the police union's ability to negotiate with the municipality. Id., 15, 22. Residency requirement for municipal employees was condition of employment and therefore a mandatory subject of collective bargaining, and employer's unilateral change of such condition of employment was prohibited act; failure of union to demand bargaining prior to enactment of ordinance did not constitute a waiver of its right to bargain. 36 CS 18. Cited. 40 CS 365; 42 CS 227; 43 CS 340; Id., 470.
Subsec. (a):
Subdiv. (1): Labor board cannot compel either party, directly or indirectly, to agree to any contractual position but can require that employees bargain in good faith. 160 C. 285. Cited. 171 C. 349. Subdiv. (4): Unilateral change of pension benefits by employer did not constitute refusal to bargain where union had notice of change and opportunity to negotiate the issue. 173 C. 210. Cited. 206 C. 449; 210 C. 597; 217 C. 110; 232 C. 57. Term “grievance settlement” within Subdiv. (6) encompasses an unappealed grievance decision; State Board of Labor Relations' time-tested interpretation of term is reasonable and consistent with its use as a term of art in the labor law context, there was no merit to argument that legislature intended to make a distinction between grievance decision and grievance settlement and there was nothing in statutory language or legislative history that contravened board's interpretation. 259 C. 251.
Cited. 8 CA 57. Substantial evidence supported denial by State Board of Labor Relations of union's complaint alleging that supervisory personnel employed by city department of public works engaged in prohibited conduct. 156 CA 79.
Cited. 39 CS 338.
Subsec. (c):
Collective bargaining must be taken at reasonable time relative to town's budget-making process. 160 C. 285. Cited. 162 C. 579; 171 C. 352, 353. “Conditions of employment” includes whether person shall continue in employment. Id., 553, 559, 560. Cited. 210 C. 597; 216 C. 253; 224 C. 666; 232 C. 57.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 113 - Municipal Employees
Section 7-407. - Method of adoption.
Section 7-408. - Civil service board; appointment; terms of office; removal.
Section 7-409. - Purpose of part. Rules.
Section 7-410. - Civil service board; president; chief examiner.
Section 7-411. - Classification of officers and employees.
Section 7-412. - Publication of rules.
Section 7-413. - Examination of applicants. Certification.
Section 7-414. - Classified service; eligible list; promotion.
Section 7-415. - Credit allowances to veterans in examinations for original appointment.
Section 7-416. - Appointments.
Section 7-417. - Probation; notice of appointment or of creation or abolition of office.
Section 7-418. - Inmates of institutions excepted.
Section 7-419. - Removal of officers or employees.
Section 7-420. - Interference with or false grading of applicants.
Section 7-421a. - Inconsistent statutory or charter provisions.
Section 7-421b. - Limitation on restrictions of political rights of municipal employees.
Section 7-422. - Personnel appeals board. Appeal to Superior Court.
Section 7-423. - Technical services by Department of Administrative Services.
Section 7-426. - Separate funds. Retirement rate.
Section 7-427. - Participation by municipalities.
Section 7-428. - Retirement on account of length of service and age.
Section 7-429. - Retirement of elective officers.
Section 7-430. - Involuntary retirement; temporary retention.
Section 7-431. - Separation from service before voluntary retirement age.
Section 7-433b. - Survivors' benefits for firemen and policemen. Maximum cumulative payment.
Section 7-433d. - Injury or death of fireman while engaged in fire duties with another company.
Section 7-434. - Continuity of service.
Section 7-434a. - Continuation of membership during service as elected official.
Section 7-435. - Retirement benefits for members of fund A.
Section 7-436b. - Credit for military service for members of fund B.
Section 7-439b. - Cost of living adjustment to retirement allowance.
Section 7-439c. - Discharge of liability for increases of retirement allowance.
Section 7-439d. - Cost of living adjustment not limited by subsection (a) of section 7-436.
Section 7-439e. - Actuarial study by retirement board to determine cost impact of increases.
Section 7-439f. - Study concerning restructuring of fund.
Section 7-439g. - Optional forms of retirement income. Preretirement death benefit.
Section 7-439h. - Erroneous payments; adjustment; waiver of repayment; regulations.
Section 7-440a. - Certain contributions by members treated as employer contributions.
Section 7-441a. - Contributions to remain at level in effect on June 30, 1980.
Section 7-442. - Transfer from fund A to fund B.
Section 7-442a. - Transfer of retirement credit between municipalities.
Section 7-442c. - Credit for prior service with redevelopment agency.
Section 7-442e. - Credit for prior service with Connecticut Housing Authority.
Section 7-443. - Initial rates of contribution by municipality.
Section 7-444. - Withdrawal by a municipality.
Section 7-445. - Liability of municipality.
Section 7-446. - Assignments prohibited.
Section 7-447. - Custody and investment of funds.
Section 7-449. - Effect of amendment or repeal of part.
Section 7-450b. - Cost of living allowance.
Section 7-451. - Retroactive coverage.
Section 7-452. - Participation in federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance System: Definitions.
Section 7-453. - Membership in system. Contributions.
Section 7-454. - Employees not included.
Section 7-456. - Deductions from wages.
Section 7-457. - Agreement between commission and municipality.
Section 7-458. - Refund of amounts recovered from federal government.
Section 7-459. - Retroactivity.
Section 7-459a. - Survivors' benefits authorized.
Section 7-459b. - Deferred retirement option plan. Adoption.
Section 7-460. - Compensation of officials and employees.
Section 7-460a. - Sick leave pay exclusion from Social Security contributions.
Section 7-460b. - Residency requirements.
Section 7-460c. - Compensatory time in lieu of overtime pay.
Section 7-460d. - Additional compensation for certain retired public safety employees.
Section 7-461. - Leave of absence for reserve corps field training.
Section 7-461a. - Leave of absence for specialized disaster relief services.
Section 7-462. - Reinstatement of employees after military leave.
Section 7-463. - Interest of state in employees' bonds.
Section 7-466. - Collective bargaining authorized.
Section 7-467. - Collective bargaining. Definitions.
Section 7-467a. - Qualification of employee organization.
Section 7-468. - Rights of employees and representatives. Duty of fair representation.
Section 7-469. - Duty to bargain collectively.
Section 7-470. - Prohibited acts of employers and employee organizations.
Section 7-471. - Powers of State Board of Labor Relations.
Section 7-471a. - Supervisory employees not required to form employees association.
Section 7-472. - Mediation by State Board of Mediation and Arbitration.
Section 7-473b. - Mandatory timetable for negotiations. Appointment of mediator.
Section 7-475. - Strikes prohibited.
Section 7-476. - Existing bargaining unit not altered during term of agreement.
Section 7-477. - Payroll deductions of union dues authorized.
Section 7-478d. - Duties of State Board of Mediation and Arbitration if no resolution.
Section 7-478f. - Rejection of award by legislative body. Second arbitration format.