PRINTER'S NO. 1758
No. 312 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY HARKINS, BELFANTI, GALLOWAY, LONGIETTI, SAINATO,
GIBBONS, GINGRICH, RAMALEY, PALLONE, PAYNE, MANN, SOLOBAY,
M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, CLYMER, CAPPELLI, SANTONI, GRUCELA,
BISHOP, DiGIROLAMO, GEIST, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, MILLARD,
GERGELY, SURRA, PHILLIPS, GEORGE, MANDERINO, MANTZ, EACHUS,
SONNEY, BOBACK, KOTIK, SCAVELLO, HENNESSEY, PERZEL, THOMAS,
McGEEHAN AND MENSCH, JUNE 5, 2007
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JUNE 5, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Labor
2 Relations Board.
3 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB)
4 administers and enforces four Commonwealth laws dealing with
5 labor-management relations; and
6 WHEREAS, June 1, 1937, the PLRB was established by the
7 Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act to administer State laws
8 governing private-sector collective bargaining disputes; and
9 WHEREAS, Through establishment of the PLRB, the General
10 Assembly sought to encourage peaceful resolution of private-
11 sector industrial disputes through collective bargaining; and
12 WHEREAS, The PLRB was charged with protecting employees,
13 employers and labor organizations during legal activities
14 associated with the collective bargaining process; and
15 WHEREAS, In 1970 the Public Employe Relations Act extended
1 collective bargaining rights and obligations to many public
2 employees and vested the PLRB with administrative authority to
3 implement its provisions; and
4 WHEREAS, The PLRB's jurisdiction was again expanded in 1977
5 to oversee collective bargaining rights of police officers and
6 firefighters; and
7 WHEREAS, In 1992 the PLRB was charged with revised
8 responsibilities in public school bargaining disputes, including
9 appointment of fact-finders; and
10 WHEREAS, Today the PLRB is responsible for evaluating
11 collective bargaining units, certifying employee
12 representatives, remedying and preventing unfair labor practices
13 and facilitating the resolution of bargaining disputes through
14 fact-finding and arbitration; and
15 WHEREAS, The PLRB operates with three board members and a
16 small staff in two offices in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh; and
17 WHEREAS, In 2006, 880 cases were investigated by the board,
18 with 63% involving alleged unfair practices; and
19 WHEREAS, In 2006 the PLRB conducted more than 50 union
20 representation elections; and
21 WHEREAS, Approximately 850 fact-finding cases are filed with
22 the PLRB annually, with most involving public schools and
23 municipalities; and
24 WHEREAS, The PLRB has, through its varied functions and
25 responsibilities, provided a great service to many employers,
26 employees and labor organizations in our State; therefore be it
27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives congratulate the
28 Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board on the celebration of its
29 70th anniversary in June 2007.
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