American Federation of State v. Borough of State College

NARICK, Senior Judge.

The basic issue presented in this case is whether an equity court or the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB) 1 has jurisdiction to compel an employer to arbitrate a grievance under Act 111. Counsel has not cited, nor have we found, any appellate court or PLRB decision considering this specific issue presented under Act 111. 2 For the reasons set forth below, we do not find that the Borough of State College’s (Borough’s) refusal to arbitrate a grievance, in itself, constitutes an unfair labor practice under Act 111 and the PLRA, enforceable by the PLRB. Rather, we…