New York (State). Public Employment Relations Board

CURRENT FUNCTIONS. The Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) is responsible for assisting in resolving labor-relations disputes between public-employee organizations and agencies of State and local government and school districts. PERB provides mediation, fact-finding, and arbitration services in disputes over contract agreements; it settles questions of union representation; and it hears charges of improper practices by public employers, employees, and employee organizations.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY. During the first half of the twentieth century, public-employee organizations were established to seek job security and other benefits for government employees. Although strikes by public employees were proscribed by common law, a series of municipal employee strikes after World War II led to enactment of the Condon-Wadlin Act in 1947 (Chapter 391), establishing penalties for striking public employees. Three years later an executive order was issued that guaranteed State employees the right to join employee organizations and created a grievance procedure.

...