Bill H.174 proposes significant changes to the Vermont Labor Relations Board's handling of grievances and unfair labor practices. The bill aims to remove grievances from the Board's workload, establishing that the final step in the grievance process will be binding arbitration instead of an appeal to the Board. It amends current law to clarify that collective bargaining agreements must include binding arbitration as the final step in grievance procedures, and it specifies that grievances from retired University of Vermont employees will also be submitted to binding arbitration. Additionally, the bill sets deadlines for the handling of unfair labor practices, requiring the Board to hold hearings within 90 days of a charge being filed and to issue decisions within 30 days after the hearing.

The bill includes several amendments to existing statutes, such as changing the language around grievance procedures and the Board's authority. Notably, it deletes provisions that previously allowed for appeals to the Board and establishes new timelines for responding to unfair labor practice charges. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025. Overall, H.174 seeks to streamline the grievance process and enhance the efficiency of the Labor Relations Board by shifting the focus to binding arbitration.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3-904, 3-926, 3-928, 3-941, 3-1001, 3-965