The Graduate Employees’ Organization committed an unfair labor practice by violating the no-strike clause in its current contract and walking off the job late last month, a state administrative law judge ruled April 17.
David Peltz, administrative law judge for the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules, acting on behalf of the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, issued the decision in response to an unfair labor practice charge the University of Michigan filed on March 29.
“The undisputed facts establish that the GEO engaged in conduct wholly inconsistent with its obligations under the contract,” Peltz wrote in the decision.
“By agreeing to Article III, the GEO is contractually obligated to refrain from causing, instigating, supporting or encouraging any ‘concerted interference with the operation of the University’ including the ‘failure, in whole or part, to fully, faithfully, and properly perform the duties of employment.’”
The decision serves as a recommendation to the full commission for a final decision and can be appealed by GEO. Union leaders have vowed to do so.
The recommended order is that GEO cease and desist violating its contract, thereby ending the strike. The union should also notify its members that it has committed unfair labor practices and will no longer violate the contract, according to the recommended order.
Article III of the union’s current contract with the university, which expires May 1, states in part, “The Union, through...
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