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EAA Wins Precedent-setting Unfair Employee Relations Practice claim at the ERB

This decision resolves Unfair Employee Relations Practice (UERP) claim number 1647 in favor of EAA. By so doing, the ERB adopted the recommendations of the hearing officer. His order reads in part 'Claimant (EAA) was entitled under the Ordinance to immediately bargain over salary terms and conditions of employment unique to Medical Assistants'.

Claim 1647 was filed by EAA for the City's 'Refusal to meet and confer over salary and unique terms and conditions of employment of newly-accreted classification', in this case Medical Assistants. The City's position was that they would not negotiate until expiration of the MOU into which the Medical Assistants were accreted, a position they have always taken.

This result will not only provide EAA the opportunity to address the salary and terms and conditions of employment for the Medical Assistants, but to do so for all future accretions. The benefits go far beyond EAA since this result is based on EAA's arguments regarding the ordinance, not an MOU, meaning that all City unions can now take advantage of the precedent set by EAA.