§183 Conciliation of labor disputes in the health care industry

Summary

The Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service can create an impartial Board of Inquiry if a threatened or actual strike or lockout at a health care place would seriously interrupt local health care. The Director must set up the board within 30 days after one type of required notice under section 158(d) or within 10 days after the other type of notice. The board must investigate and give a written report to the parties within 15 days. The report must list the facts found and give recommendations to reach a quick, peaceful, and fair settlement. Board members may not have any interest in the employers or employee groups involved. Federal employees on the board are not paid for service but are reimbursed for travel, lodging, and other necessary expenses. Nonfederal members are paid a rate set by the Director, not more than the daily GS‑18 rate under section 5332 of title 5, and are also reimbursed for travel, lodging, and other necessary expenses. After a board is set up and for 15 days after its report, the parties must not change the status quo (the terms in effect before a contract expired for renewals, or before the impasse for initial bargaining) unless both sides agree. Money needed to run these boards may be appropriated.