The bill amends several sections of Chapter 28-9.4, "Municipal Employees Arbitration," to enhance the rights of municipal employees regarding collective bargaining and arbitration processes. It establishes a public policy that supports the right of municipal employees to organize and negotiate collectively with their employers over wages, rates of pay, and all other terms and conditions of employment, while explicitly stating that employees do not have the right to strike. The bill introduces a new method of arbitration to resolve disputes, recognizing the necessity of providing an alternative to striking.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that the employee organization selected by municipal employees will be recognized as the sole bargaining agent unless a vote to change this status occurs. It outlines specific factors that arbitrators must consider when making decisions, including comparisons of wage rates and hourly conditions of employment with similar jobs in the local area, the interests and welfare of the public, and various peculiarities of employment such as hazards, physical and educational qualifications, mental qualifications, and job training and skills.

The bill grants arbitrators the authority to render binding decisions on all negotiated matters, including those involving financial expenditures. The changes aim to ensure a fair and just resolution of disputes between municipal employees and their employers. The act will take effect upon passage.