In 1980, the legislature amended the provisions of the Minnesota Public Employment Labor Relations Act [PELRA] establishing, among other things, an expanded right to strike for public employees (other than those classified as essential employees under the act). One of the factors contributing to the approval of this aspect of the 1980 amendments was the belief that an expansion of the right to strike would provide a greater balance in the bargaining power of the parties and, thus, facilitate expedient and equitable resolution of collective bargaining disputes.
The legislature continues to be concerned with prolonged negotiations in the public school system. Delays in bargaining, prolonged negotiations, the threat of strikes, an adversarial relationship between teachers and school boards, and actual work stoppages all appear to have continued, in spite of the 1980 amendments. Because these events and situations tend to undermine the delivery of educational services, harm the quality of education received by students in the affected districts, and lead to an erosion of community support for public schools, the legislature created the Advisory Council to study the collective bargaining situation in the public schools.
The Advisory Council saw its mission as one which involved an examination of impasse resolution procedures and rights under PELRA. In fulfilling this responsibility, however, the Advisory Council sought to ensure not only a balance of rights within the bargaining process, but also a balance of those procedures with the rights of public school students to receive a quality education.
(The three paragraphs above are taken from the "Final Report of the Advisory Council on Bargaining Impasse Resolution", p.1)
The advisory council shall terminate on June 30, 1985.