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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Robert E. Belfanti, Jr. |
  
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Belfanti measure streamlining labor dispute process goes to governor
HARRISBURG, July 4 – State Rep. Robert E. Belfanti Jr., said the state Senate and House have passed legislation he introduced that would streamline the appeals process in labor disputes involving public employees in Pennsylvania.
Belfanti, who is chairman of the House Labor Relations Committee, said the bill will lower the cost of labor disputes involving public workers in Pennsylvania and bring the appeals process for municipal public workers and teachers in line with that of state employees.
The legislation (H.B. 306) repeals a section of state law that gives local courts of common pleas jurisdiction over the appeals made by local government agencies or employees of decisions issued by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. In the case of state agencies and state workers, appeals of PLRB decisions go directly to Commonwealth Court. The legislation will send appeals of local public employees directly to Commonwealth Court, as well.
"In addition to adding an extra layer of appeals to the process – and all the costs that come with it -- the current law makes public employees at the local level go through a different appeals process than those at the state level, which isn't fair and isn't necessary," Belfanti said. "By eliminating the extra level of appeal for local workers, we can streamline the process, save money and bring the appellate procedure for the Labor Relations Board in line with the appeals process that governs other state agencies."
The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board was created in 1937 to administer and enforce state labor laws regarding private-sector collective bargaining disputes. When collective bargaining rights were extended to many state and local workers in 1970, the PLRB was also given administrative authority over labor disputes involving public agencies and employees, as well.
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