State v. Public Safety Employees Ass'n

OPINION

CARPENETI, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

Alaska labor relations law provides that if a public employer and a labor union successfully negotiate a contract, it “shall include a grievance procedure which shall have binding arbitration as its final step.” 1 Does this statute permit parties to a collective bargaining agreement to waive their right to grieve a subject governed by the agreement? The Alaska Labor Relations Agency answered this question “yes.” We agree, and therefore affirm the decision of the agency.

II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

A. Facts

The Public Safety Employees Association (PSEA) is…