NP partner Peter Perroni and the NEPBA recently secured a very important labor victory against the Governor of New Hampshire, who had refused to present a favorable contract arbitration award (fact finding - similar to JLMC process in MA) to the Governor's Council for approval. After a full hearing before the NH Public Employee Relations Board, a hearing officer found that the State acted in bad faith when it failed to present the award, and when it dealt directly with employees in an attempt to circumvent the union.
This decision is a positive result for the NEPBA's state groups, and also will greatly benefit statewide bargaining units across NH. The ruling is important as it clarifies that the governor cannot simply refuse to present the Award to the Governor's Council in an attempt to stop the contract process.
Click here to read the decision. It has a good explanation of what constitutes direct dealing by an employer, an area of law that is similar in most states.