CHAPTER 324

H.P. 776 - L.D. 1123

An Act To Promote Stability in Labor Relations

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §964-A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 773, §1 and affected by §7, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§964-A.__Continuation of grievance arbitration provisions

1.__Contract signed before October 1, 2005.__If a contract between a public employer and a bargaining agent signed prior to October 1, 2005 expires prior to the parties' agreement on a new contract, the grievance arbitration provisions of the expired contract pertaining to disciplinary action remain in effect until the parties execute a new contract.

2.__Contract signed after October 1, 2005.__If a contract between a public employer and a bargaining agent signed after October 1, 2005 expires prior to the parties' agreement on a new contract, the grievance arbitration provisions of the expired contract remain in effect until the parties execute a new contract.__In any arbitration that is conducted pursuant to this subsection, an arbitrator shall apply only those provisions enforceable by virtue of the static status quo doctrine and may not add to, restrict or modify the applicable static status quo following the expiration of the contract unless the parties have otherwise agreed in the collective bargaining agreement.__All such grievances that are appealed to arbitration are subject exclusively to the grievance and arbitration process contained in the expired agreement, and the board does not have jurisdiction