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 and issue decisions within specified timeframes.

Key amendments include the deletion of language that allowed grievances to be appealed to the Vermont Labor Relations Board, and the insertion of new provisions that mandate binding arbitration as the final step in grievance procedures. The bill also introduces timelines for responding to unfair labor practice charges and for the Board to conduct hearings and issue decisions. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025.

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