Catherwood LibraryILR School

A dispute between two unions about which has the right to bargain for the municipal employees of the city of Fremont has escalated to the California state Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). The group of 227 city workers was represented by both the Fremont Association of City Employees (FACE) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) through an agreement that has been in place since 1976. That ended one year ago when FACE sought to decrease the amount its members paid in dues by decoupling from SEIU through a petition to the city. There was a vote by the membership to separate, but SEIU brought the potentially bias results of the election run by FACE to the PERB. An administrative law judge had dismissed SEIU?s complaint, but through the appeals process SEIU was granted an injunction to maintain the status quo. The decision from the PERB may take up to three years because of a heavy caseload, but even then the case is likely to be appealed because of a PERB member?s close relationship with SEIU. The city has sought to remain neutral throughout the process.