Ionia Public Schools v. Ionia Education Association

The Ionia Education Association (IEA) appeals as of right the order of the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) dismissing the unfair-labor-practice charge that the IEA brought against respondent, Ionia Public Schools (the school district). We affirm.

I. PERTINENT FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

A. THE “BID-BUMP” PROCEDURE

This case primarily involves a matter of statutory interpretation and the pertinent facts are undisputed. The IEA and the school district are parties to a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that expired on or about August 25, 2011. The expired CBA contained sections…