The Public and Private Employment Relations Board would be a new agency if legislation authorizing the merging of State Employment Relations Board (SERB) and the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) is enacted. The new Board would resolve labor disputes between employers and employees in both the public and the private sectors. The Board would also settle questions of union representation, conduct hearings on charges of improper or unfair labor practices, designate Management/Confidential positions, and act as a clearinghouse for information on wages, benefits and employment practices.

State Operations

The Executive recommends an All Funds appropriation of $4,836,000, a decrease of $879,000 over the combined State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2002-03 funding levels for SERB and PERB.

The Executive proposes personal service savings of $889,000 through the elimination of four filled SERB Board positions as well as six filled SERB program staff positions.

Article VII

The Executive proposes legislation to merge the Public Employment Relations Board and the State Employment Relations Board into a new Public and Private Employment Relations Board.