City of Everett v. Fire Fighters, Local No. 350 of the International Ass'n of Fire Fighters

The respondent City and the appellant union sought to negotiate an employment contract for the year 1976. Bargaining reached an impasse, and the dispute was submitted to mediation pursuant to RCW 41.56.100. Thereafter, a fact-finding panel was selected in accordance with RCW 41.56.440. The City having rejected the recommendations of the fact-finding panel, the union attempted to invoke the arbitration procedure provided for in RCW 41.56.450 et seq. The City refused to submit to arbitration and brought this declaratory judgment action, seeking to obtain a ruling that the arbitration provisions…