(1) If, after a reasonable period, but in no event less than thirty (30) days, of negotiations over the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement or modifications in an existing agreement, the parties to the negotiations are deadlocked, either party or the parties jointly may petition the cabinet, by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by registered mail, to initiate fact-finding.
(2) Upon receipt of a petition to initiate fact-finding, the cabinet shall cause an investigation to determine whether or not the parties are deadlocked in their negotiations. During the course of this investigation, the secretary is empowered to utilize his or her office in an effort to effectuate a settlement between the parties through mediation and conciliation.

Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 67C.412

  • Certified mail: means any method of governmental, commercial, or electronic delivery that allows a document or package to have proof of:
    (a) Sending the document or package. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Registered mail: means any governmental, commercial, or electronic method of delivery that allows a document or package to have:
    (a) Its chain of custody recorded in a register to enable its location to be tracked. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.

(3) Upon completion of the cabinet’s investigation, and if a settlement between the parties has still not been reached, the secretary shall within ten (10) days appoint a qualified and disinterested person as the impartial chairman of a three (3) member panel to function as the fact-finders. In addition to the impartial chairman, the other two (2) members of the panel shall be one (1) member named by the labor organization and one (1) member named by the consolidated local government, parties to the deadlocked negotiations.
(4) Upon consultation with the other members of the panel, the impartial chairman shall establish dates and places for public hearings. Whenever feasible, public hearings shall be held within the jurisdiction in which the consolidated local government is located. The panel may subpoena witnesses, and a written transcript of the hearing shall be made. Upon completion of the hearings the panel shall, by majority decision, make written findings of fact, recommendations, and opinions to be served on the consolidated local government and labor organization (parties) and these shall be released to the public. Expenses incurred by the three (3) member panel in this section shall be paid by the parties involved in the labor dispute.
Effective: July 15, 2010
History: Amended 2010 Ky. Acts ch. 24, sec. 68, effective July 15, 2010. — Created
2004 Ky. Acts ch. 101, sec. 7, effective July 13, 2004.