Employer must meet and confer before correcting error

The California Federation of Interpreters reports on an award it received affirming the obligation of the Sonoma County (California) Superior Court to meet and confer with the Union before making changes to the policy on reimbursement for continuing education expenses, even though the changes were consistent with the contract. CFI Vindicated in Sonoma Arbitration.The arbitrator rejected the employer's claim that the past practice it changed was inconsistent with the contract and that it was under no obligation to meet and confer before bringing the practice into compliance with what it believed the contract required.
Arbitrator Paul Staudohar's award can be found here.