New Hampshire Public Employee Labor Relations Board – Concord, NH

NH Public Employee Labor Relations Board (PELRB)

Adjudicating Public Sector Disputes

The New Hampshire Public Employee Labor Relations Board (PELRB) is a quasi-judicial state agency responsible for administering the Public Employee Labor Relations Act (RSA 273-A). Established in 1975, the board oversees the collective bargaining process between public employers (state, county, municipal, and school districts) and their employees. The board’s primary role is to ensure fair labor practices and maintain stability in the public sector workforce through neutral dispute resolution.

• Bargaining Units: The PELRB determines the appropriate composition of bargaining units and certifies the exclusive representatives (unions) for those units.
• Elections: The agency conducts secret ballot elections to determine if employees wish to be represented by a union or to decertify an existing representative.
• Unfair Labor Practices: The board holds hearings to adjudicate complaints regarding unfair labor practices filed by either employers or unions, such as failure to bargain in good faith.
• Dispute Resolution: The PELRB maintains a roster of qualified neutrals to serve as mediators, fact-finders, and arbitrators to help parties resolve contract negotiation impasses and grievances.

Office Information

The PELRB office is located at 2½ Beacon Street, near the rotary. This facility houses the administrative staff and the hearing room where board proceedings take place. Parties to collective bargaining agreements must file their contracts with this office. While staff can provide procedural guidance, they cannot offer legal advice to individuals.