As we approach the midpoint of 2025, things are busy at PERC. Case filings have been steady but slightly off the pace set in 2024, which was the third highest year in agency history. Representation cases—the number of which was the second highest in agency history in 2024—are above that pace and well above the previous five-years’ average. We recently released the Annual Report for 2024. Click here to review that.
 
Earlier this year, we implemented an AI chatbot for the PERC website. The chatbot is designed to solely look at information on the PERC website. The chatbot’s purpose is to better help people access the right information on our website and better inform them about PERC’s role, statutes, and processes.

The 2025 legislative session resulted in legislation that will impact PERC. Legislation was passed granting collective bargaining rights to agricultural cannabis workers. Those workers are not covered by the National Labor Relations Act. PERC is responsible for administering this statute, which will take effect in late July.
 
The budget for the next biennium will also impact us, as the budgets of all agencies were cut. PERC’s budget was cut by 3%. While this will not result in the layoff of individuals, a vacant position was cut. These cuts may impact our ability to meet increased demand for services. For example, we may not be able to put more resources toward representation cases. Fortunately, PERC did receive some funding for the agricultural cannabis worker bargaining, but it is unknown how much work will be generated by that statute.

At the same time, change on the federal level may impact PERC. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) provides mediation and training services to private-sector parties. This spring, the FMCS was forced to undergo drastic reductions as part of federal restructuring. Consequently, the FMCS has drastically reduced the services it provides. We have received inquiries about PERC’s ability to provide services to private-sector parties. Since its inception, PERC has had statutory authority to provide services to private-sector parties when both parties consent. In its history PERC has sporadically received requests from private-sector parties. Among the services PERC can provide are access to its panel of private arbitrators, arbitrations conducted by PERC staff, grievance mediation, contract mediation, training, and representation elections.

We recognize that private-sector parties have lost a valuable resource to help them address labor relations issues, and we remain open to doing what we can to fill that void. PERC will provide lists of arbitrators from our Dispute Resolution Panel upon request. All other requests for services will be considered by me on an ad hoc basis. In considering any requests from private-sector parties, I will weigh PERC’s operational capacity and ensure that granting the request will not be at the expense of our public-sector clientele.

Busy times, as you can see. Thanks to all the PERC staff for making PERC’s success possible.
 
Have a great summer.