Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676 (2026)

Processing of unfair labor practice complaints; civil penalties

✓ current as of May 2026
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      243.676 Processing of unfair labor practice complaints; civil penalties. (1) Whenever a written complaint is filed alleging that any person has engaged in or is engaging in any unfair labor practice listed in ORS 243.672 (1) to (4) and 243.752, the Employment Relations Board or its agent shall:

      (a) Cause to be served upon such person a copy of the complaint;

      (b) Investigate the complaint to determine if a hearing on the unfair labor practice charge is warranted. If the investigation reveals that no issue of fact or law exists, the board may dismiss the complaint; and

      (c) Set the matter for hearing if the board finds in its investigation made pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection that an issue of fact or law exists. The hearing shall be before the board or an agent of the board not more than 20 days after a copy of the complaint has been served on the person.

      (2) Where, as a result of the hearing required pursuant to subsection (1)(c) of this section, the board finds that any person named in the complaint has engaged in or is engaging in any unfair labor practice charged in the complaint, the board shall:

      (a) State its findings of fact;

      (b) Issue and cause to be served on such person an order that the person cease and desist from the unfair labor practice;

      (c) Take such affirmative action, including but not limited to the reinstatement of employees with or without back pay, as necessary to effectuate the purposes of ORS 240.060, 240.065, 240.080, 240.123, 243.650 to 243.809 and 341.290;

      (d) Designate the amount and award representation costs, if any, to the prevailing party; and

      (e) Designate the amount and award attorney fees, if any, to the prevailing party on appeal, including proceedings for Supreme Court review, of a board order.

      (3) Where the board finds that the person named in the complaint has not engaged in or is not engaging in an unfair labor practice, the board shall:

      (a) Issue an order dismissing the complaint; and

      (b) Designate the amount and award representation costs, if any, to the prevailing party.

      (4)(a) The board may award a civil penalty to any person as a result of an unfair labor practice complaint hearing, in the aggregate amount of up to $1,000 per case, without regard to attorney fees, if:

      (A) The complaint has been affirmed pursuant to subsection (2) of this section and the board finds that the person who has committed, or who is engaging, in an unfair labor practice has done so repetitively, knowing that the action taken was an unfair labor practice and took the action disregarding this knowledge, or that the action constituting the unfair labor practice was egregious; or

      (B) The complaint has been dismissed pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, and that the complaint was frivolously filed, or filed with the intent to harass the other person, or both.

      (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, if the board finds that a public employer named in the complaint violated ORS 243.670 (2), the board shall impose a civil penalty equal to triple the amount of funds the public employer expended to assist, promote or deter union organizing.

      (c)(A) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, but subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph, if the board finds that the public employer named in the complaint has violated ORS 243.804 (4) or 243.806 (7) and that the employer has previously violated either provision, the board shall impose a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000. For any subsequent violation, the board shall impose a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000.

      (B) In determining the amount of the civil penalty to impose under this paragraph, the board shall consider extenuating circumstances that the employer has proven contributed to or caused the violation. An extenuating circumstance is not an affirmative defense to a violation described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.

      (C) A finding of a violation under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph is not subject to a civil penalty under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph if the employer establishes that the violation resulted directly from:

      (i) A natural disaster, as defined in ORS 197A.440;

      (ii) A computer crime, as defined in ORS 164.377; or

      (iii) Destruction by fire, flood, or other catastrophic event at the employer’s place of business that significantly disrupted the public employer’s operations relating to the violation.

      (5) As used in subsections (1) to (4) of this section, “person” includes but is not limited to individuals, labor organizations, associations and public employers. [1973 c.536 §5; 1979 c.219 §1; 1983 c.504 §1; 1983 c.559 §1; 2013 c.663 §7; 2019 c.429 §12; 2019 c.439 §2; 2025 c.270 §1]

 

(Representation Matters)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 53 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case: Elvin v. Oregon Pub. Employes Union, 832 P.2d 36 (Or. 1992).
Elvin v. Oregon Pub. Employes Union, 832 P.2d 36 (Or. 1992). · cites it 28× “There is evidence that subsection (4) of ORS 243.676, adopted in 1983, Or. Laws 1983, ch.”
Elvin v. Oregon Pub. Employees Union, 793 P.2d 338 (Or. Ct. App. 1990). · cites it 30× “In my view, ERB’s action exceeded its authority under ORS 243.”
Shockey v. City of Portland, 837 P.2d 505 (Or. 1992). · cites it 8× “ORS 243.676. ORS 243.672(1)(g) provides: "(1) It is an unfair labor practice for a public employer or its designated representative to do any of the following: "* * * * * "(g) Violate the provisions of any written contract with respect to employment relations[.”
Am. Fed'n of State Cnty. & Mun. Employees, Council 75, Local 2043 v. City of Lebanon, 388 P.3d 1028 (Or. 2017). · cites it 6× “See ORS 243.676 (authorizing such remedy when unfair labor practice established).”
Ahern v. Oregon Pub. Employees Union, 988 P.2d 364 (Or. 1999). · cites it 10× “We now hold that, under ORS 243.676, ERB has exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether OPEU committed an unfair labor practice.”
Portland State Univ. Chapter of the Am. Ass'n of Univ. Professors v. Portland State Univ., 291 P.3d 658 (Or. 2012). · cites it 3× “” ORS 243.676(1); see also Ahern v. OPEU, 329 Or 428, 434-35 , 988 P2d 364 (1999) (recognizing that ERB has exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether an unfair labor practice has been committed under ORS 243.”
Davenport v. Washington Educ. Ass'n, 147 Wash. App. 704 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “The Oregon Supreme Court affirmed, stating that Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676 (2)(c) gave the Board authority to order “ ‘such affirmative action .”
Gresham Grade Teachers Ass'n v. Gresham Grade Sch. Dist. No. 4, 630 P.2d 1304 (Or. Ct. App. 1981). · cites it 5× “Where, as here, because of the agency’s inaction, it is not clear that it has correctly interpreted the law requiring "affirmative action,” ORS 243.676(2) (or whether it has even attempted to do so), our task on review becomes quite difficult.”
Trout v. Umatilla Cnty. Sch. Dist. Uh3-Milton-Freewater, 712 P.2d 814 (Or. Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 2× “2 District argues that the Employment Relations Board has exclusive jurisdiction over any breach of the agreement and that plaintiffs cannot sue District for breach of that contract in circuit court. 3 District is correct.”
Am. Fed'n of State v. Exec. Dep't, 628 P.2d 1228 (Or. Ct. App. 1981). · cites it 2× “It observed in its order that the same conduct was alleged to have violated (1)(f) but said "This Board * * * has a long-standing policy of refusing to consider derivative violations of PERA (citations omitted).”
Washington Cnty. Police Officers Ass'n v. Washington Cnty., 900 P.2d 483 (Or. 1995). · cites it 7× “As a result, the Association’s complaint raised an “issue of fact or law” within the meaning of ORS 243.676(1) that required ERB to hold a •hearing.”
Oregon City Fed'n of Teachers v. Oregon City Educ. Ass'n, 584 P.2d 303 (Or. Ct. App. 1978). · cites it 3× “4 ERB’s processing of unfair labor practice complaints is controlled by ORS 243.676, which provides in part: "(2) Where, as a result of the hearing required pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection (l)_of this section, the board finds that any *32 person, named in the complaint…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(1) — 6 cases
Shockey v. City of Portland, 837 P.2d 505 (Or. 1992). “ORS 243.676. ORS 243.672(1)(g) provides: "(1) It is an unfair labor practice for a public employer or its designated representative to do any of the following: "* * * * * "(g) Violate the provisions of any written contract with respect to employment relations[.”
Portland State Univ. Chapter of the Am. Ass'n of Univ. Professors v. Portland State Univ., 291 P.3d 658 (Or. 2012). “” ORS 243.676(1); see also Ahern v. OPEU, 329 Or 428, 434-35 , 988 P2d 364 (1999) (recognizing that ERB has exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether an unfair labor practice has been committed under ORS 243.”
Ahern v. Oregon Pub. Employees Union, 988 P.2d 364 (Or. 1999). “We now hold that, under ORS 243.676, ERB has exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether OPEU committed an unfair labor practice.”
Washington Cnty. Police Officers Ass'n v. Washington Cnty., 900 P.2d 483 (Or. 1995). “As a result, the Association’s complaint raised an “issue of fact or law” within the meaning of ORS 243.676(1) that required ERB to hold a •hearing.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(1)(b) — 3 cases
Wash. Cty. Pol. Officers v. Wash. Cty., 900 P.2d 483 (Or. 1995).
Johnson v. Portland Assn. of Teachers, 346 Or. App. 561 (Or. Ct. App. 2026).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(1)(b)(c) — 1 case
Carlson v. AFSCME, 711 P.2d 199 (Or. Ct. App. 1985).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(1)(c) — 1 case
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(2) — 19 cases
Elvin v. Oregon Pub. Employees Union, 793 P.2d 338 (Or. Ct. App. 1990). “In my view, ERB’s action exceeded its authority under ORS 243.”
Shockey v. City of Portland, 837 P.2d 505 (Or. 1992). “ORS 243.676. ORS 243.672(1)(g) provides: "(1) It is an unfair labor practice for a public employer or its designated representative to do any of the following: "* * * * * "(g) Violate the provisions of any written contract with respect to employment relations[.”
Elvin v. Oregon Pub. Employes Union, 832 P.2d 36 (Or. 1992). “There is evidence that subsection (4) of ORS 243.676, adopted in 1983, Or. Laws 1983, ch.”
Am. Fed'n of State v. Exec. Dep't, 628 P.2d 1228 (Or. Ct. App. 1981). “It observed in its order that the same conduct was alleged to have violated (1)(f) but said "This Board * * * has a long-standing policy of refusing to consider derivative violations of PERA (citations omitted).”
Gresham Grade Teachers Ass'n v. Gresham Grade Sch. Dist. No. 4, 630 P.2d 1304 (Or. Ct. App. 1981). “Where, as here, because of the agency’s inaction, it is not clear that it has correctly interpreted the law requiring "affirmative action,” ORS 243.676(2) (or whether it has even attempted to do so), our task on review becomes quite difficult.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(2)(a) — 2 cases
Pub. Saf. Employees Ass'n v. State, 799 P.2d 315 (Alaska 1990).
Portland Ass'n of Teachers v. Sch. Dist. No. 1, 555 P.2d 943 (Or. Ct. App. 1976).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(2)(b) — 2 cases
Portland State Univ. Chapter of the Am. Ass'n of Univ. Professors v. Portland State Univ., 291 P.3d 658 (Or. 2012). “” ORS 243.676(1); see also Ahern v. OPEU, 329 Or 428, 434-35 , 988 P2d 364 (1999) (recognizing that ERB has exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether an unfair labor practice has been committed under ORS 243.”
Oregon City Fed'n of Teachers v. Oregon City Educ. Ass'n, 584 P.2d 303 (Or. Ct. App. 1978). “4 ERB’s processing of unfair labor practice complaints is controlled by ORS 243.676, which provides in part: "(2) Where, as a result of the hearing required pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection (l)_of this section, the board finds that any *32 person, named in the complaint…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(2)(c) — 14 cases
Elvin v. Oregon Pub. Employes Union, 832 P.2d 36 (Or. 1992). “There is evidence that subsection (4) of ORS 243.676, adopted in 1983, Or. Laws 1983, ch.”
Am. Fed'n of State Cnty. & Mun. Employees, Council 75, Local 2043 v. City of Lebanon, 388 P.3d 1028 (Or. 2017). “See ORS 243.676 (authorizing such remedy when unfair labor practice established).”
Elvin v. Oregon Pub. Employees Union, 793 P.2d 338 (Or. Ct. App. 1990). “In my view, ERB’s action exceeded its authority under ORS 243.”
Portland State Univ. Chapter of the Am. Ass'n of Univ. Professors v. Portland State Univ., 291 P.3d 658 (Or. 2012). “” ORS 243.676(1); see also Ahern v. OPEU, 329 Or 428, 434-35 , 988 P2d 364 (1999) (recognizing that ERB has exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether an unfair labor practice has been committed under ORS 243.”
Gresham Grade Teachers Ass'n v. Gresham Grade Sch. Dist. No. 4, 630 P.2d 1304 (Or. Ct. App. 1981). “Where, as here, because of the agency’s inaction, it is not clear that it has correctly interpreted the law requiring "affirmative action,” ORS 243.676(2) (or whether it has even attempted to do so), our task on review becomes quite difficult.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(2)(d) — 5 cases
Gresham Grade Teachers Ass'n v. Gresham Grade Sch. Dist. No. 4, 630 P.2d 1304 (Or. Ct. App. 1981). “Where, as here, because of the agency’s inaction, it is not clear that it has correctly interpreted the law requiring "affirmative action,” ORS 243.676(2) (or whether it has even attempted to do so), our task on review becomes quite difficult.”
State v. Fed'n of Oregon Parole & Prob. Officers, 767 P.2d 112 (Or. Ct. App. 1989).
Carlson v. AFSCME, 711 P.2d 199 (Or. Ct. App. 1985).
Henderson v. Jantzen, Inc., 728 P.2d 579 (Or. Ct. App. 1986).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(2)(g) — 1 case
Jefferson Cnty. v. Oregon Pub. Employees Union, 23 P.3d 401 (Or. Ct. App. 2001).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(3) — 3 cases
Carlson v. AFSCME, 711 P.2d 199 (Or. Ct. App. 1985).
Seiu Local 503, Opeu v. St (Or. Ct. App. 2024).
Seiu Local 503, Opeu v. St (Or. Ct. App. 2024).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(3)(a) — 2 cases
Seiu Local 503, Opeu v. St (Or. Ct. App. 2024).
Seiu Local 503, Opeu v. St (Or. Ct. App. 2024).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(3)(b) — 2 cases
Williams v. Amalgamated Transit Union, Div. 757, 334 Or. App. 157 (Or. Ct. App. 2024).
Pratka v. Laborers Int. Union of North Am., 334 Or. App. 147 (Or. Ct. App. 2024).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(4) — 5 cases
Elvin v. Oregon Pub. Employes Union, 832 P.2d 36 (Or. 1992). “There is evidence that subsection (4) of ORS 243.676, adopted in 1983, Or. Laws 1983, ch.”
Elvin v. Oregon Pub. Employees Union, 793 P.2d 338 (Or. Ct. App. 1990). “In my view, ERB’s action exceeded its authority under ORS 243.”
Ahern v. Oregon Pub. Employees Union, 988 P.2d 364 (Or. 1999). “We now hold that, under ORS 243.676, ERB has exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether OPEU committed an unfair labor practice.”
Lane Cnty. Pub. Works Ass'n Local 626 v. Lane Cnty., 846 P.2d 414 (Or. Ct. App. 1993).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(4)(a) — 2 cases
Elvin v. Oregon Pub. Employees Union, 793 P.2d 338 (Or. Ct. App. 1990). “In my view, ERB’s action exceeded its authority under ORS 243.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(4)(a)(A) — 1 case
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(5) — 1 case
Jefferson Cnty. v. Oregon Pub. Employees Union, 23 P.3d 401 (Or. Ct. App. 2001).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(l)(b) — 4 cases
Washington Cnty. Police Officers Ass'n v. Washington Cnty., 900 P.2d 483 (Or. 1995). “As a result, the Association’s complaint raised an “issue of fact or law” within the meaning of ORS 243.676(1) that required ERB to hold a •hearing.”
Portland Ass'n of Teachers v. Sch. Dist. No. 1, 555 P.2d 943 (Or. Ct. App. 1976).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 243.676(l)(c) — 1 case
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.