City & Borough of Sitka v. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 1547

OPINION

COMPTON, Justice.

This appeal raises the issue of whether the refusal of the City and Borough of Sitka (Sitka) to recognize the union selected as a bargaining agent by its electrical department employees violates Alaska’s Public Employment Relations Act (PERA) and Sitka’s Municipal Charter. The superior court ruled that Sitka failed to effectively opt out of PERA and that Sitka’s personnel policy ordinance violated its Charter. The court ordered Sitka to recognize and negotiate with the electrical department’s elected representative. We hold that Sitka validly opted out of PERA, but…