PERB Reduces Daily Rate for Neutrals to $100 per Day
On October 27, 2008, the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) took action at a public meeting to reduce the daily rate for PERB-appointed factfinding chairpersons due to PERB’s budget reductions for fiscal year 2008-09. PERB attempted during the 2008-09 budget process to eliminate from EERA and HEERA the corresponding requirement that PERB bear the costs of panel chairpersons. That change was not approved by the Legislature.
Under current regulations PERB pays the state appointed neutrals $800 per day for their services as chair of a factfinding panel-the last step in the impasse procedure for collective bargaining disputes. The Board announced that the daily rate would be reduced to $100 per day effective immediately, with a maximum contract duration in each case of three days. The chairpersons are still additionally entitled, consistent with State law, to necessary travel and other expenses.
It is unlikely that many of the neutrals on the current PERB-approved list will assume chair duties for a daily rate of $100. School Services, however, has recommended to districts and their employee unions that the daily rate reduction be split between the participating parties. A sharing of the $700-per-day cost difference is better than losing a good, experienced neutral. It is our opinion that the cost split is a rational response to a difficult situation.
—John Gray, Maureen Evans and Ron Bennett