Labor Relations Division Overview

The Labor Relations Division of the Kansas Department of Labor acts on behalf of the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) to administer the Public Employer-Employee Relations Act (PEERA) and for the Secretary of Labor to administer the Professional Negotiations Act (PNA). These Kansas laws, enacted more than 35 years ago, establish the right of public employees in Kansas to organize and negotiate with public employers regarding terms and conditions of employment and grievances.

Labor Negotiations

Public employee groups who choose to be represented in their negotiations with their public employer hold an election to determine who or what entity will represent them in the negotiations. Timing for the elections for representation are different under PEERA and PNA. PEERA allows them throughout the year while PNA has a cutoff date of December 1 for the next year’s representation for negotiations.

Below are all PNA and PEERA forms. The petition requirements and the notification about impasse are different under PERB and PNA.

Generally, when an impasse in bargaining is reached, the Office will contact the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, a free service of the U.S. Department of Labor, for negotiation assistance. If the parties cannot settle, the issue goes to “fact finding.” A list of five fact-finders will be provided by the Office of Labor Relations to help the parties reach agreement over their terms and conditions of employment.

PNA agreements have a deadline of June 1 each year, but the process can be extended into the summer if there is an impasse.

Petitions and Forms

To file a petition with the Office of Labor Relations, select the appropriate fillable form below and complete, sign, notarize and submit with two copies to the address provided on the forms.

Mediation

As provided in K.S.A. 72-2231 and K.A.R. 49-26-2 , petition requests for assistance in the resolution of impasse in labor negotiations are to be submitted to the Labor Relations Division.

Statutes

K.S.A 72-2218

Administrative Regulations

Petitions and Forms

To file a petition before the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB), select the appropriate fillable form below and complete, sign, notarize and submit with five copies to the address provided on the forms.

Mediation

As provided in K.S.A. 75-4332 to aid in the resolution of an impasse in labor negotiations, requests for mediators or fact finders are to be submitted to the Labor Relations Division.

Statutes

K.S.A. 75-4321 et seq.

Administrative Regulations

The Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) administers the Kansas Public Employer-Employee Relations Act (PEERA).

The Board handles unfair labor practice complaints against public employers, employee organizations and others. Unfair labor practice complaints generally deal with failure to act according to the Labor Relations appropriate conduct, for example, by unilateral changes in wages or hours and other working conditions.

The Board consists of five members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Kansas Senate. One member is a representative of public employers; one member is a representative of public employees; three members represent the general public. No more than three members are appointed from the same political party. The Executive Director of PERB and other staff members are provided by the Department of Labor to support the Board in the administration of these public sector labor laws.

Statutes

Links to Regulating Bodies

Kansas Department of Labor
Labor Relations Division
KDOL.LaborRelations@ks.gov

401 SW Topeka Blvd
Topeka, KS 66603-3182

(785) 296-5000
(785) 296-0198 (FAX)