2012 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 31 - Labor
Chapter 561 - Labor Relations Act
Section 31-109 - Enforcement of orders. Appeals.

(a) The board may petition the superior court for the judicial district wherein the unfair labor practice in question occurred or wherein any person charged with the unfair labor practice resides or transacts business, or, if said court is not in session, any judge of said court, for the enforcement of an order and for appropriate temporary relief or a restraining order, and shall certify and file in the court a transcript of the entire record of the proceedings, including the pleadings and testimony upon which such order was made and the finding and orders of the board. In the event an appeal has not been filed pursuant to section 4-183 or subsection (d) of this section, the board may file its petition in the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, or, if said court is not in session, the board may petition any judge of said court. Within five days after filing such petition in the superior court, the board shall cause a notice of such petition to be sent by registered or certified mail to all parties or their representatives. The superior court, or, if said court is not in session, any judge of said court, shall have jurisdiction of the proceedings and of the questions determined thereon, and shall have the power to grant such relief, including temporary relief, as it deems just and suitable and to make and enter a decree enforcing, modifying and enforcing as so modified, or setting aside in whole or in part, the order of the board.

(b) No objection that has not been urged before the board shall be considered by the court, unless the failure to urge such objection is excused because of extraordinary circumstances. The findings of the board as to the facts, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive. If either party applies to the court for leave to adduce additional evidence and shows to the satisfaction of the court that such additional evidence is material and that there were reasonable grounds for the failure to adduce such evidence in the hearing before the board, the court may order such additional evidence to be taken before the board and to be made part of the transcript. The board may modify its findings as to the facts, or make new findings, by reason of additional evidence so taken, and it shall file such modified or new findings, which, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive, and shall file its recommendations, if any, for the modification or setting aside of its original order.

(c) The jurisdiction of the Superior Court shall be exclusive and its judgment and decree shall be final, except that the same shall be subject to review by the Appellate Court, on appeal, by either party, irrespective of the nature of the decree or judgment or the amount involved. Such appeal shall be taken and prosecuted in the same manner and form and with the same effect as is provided under section 51-197b.

(d) Any person aggrieved by a final order of the board granting or denying in whole or in part the relief sought may appeal pursuant to the provisions of chapter 54 to the superior court for the judicial district where the unfair labor practice was alleged to have occurred, in the judicial district of Hartford, or in the judicial district wherein such person resides or transacts business.

(e) Any employer who appeals from an order or part of an order containing a direction to pay back pay to employees need not comply with so much of such order as directs such payment during the pendency of an appeal to the Superior Court or the Appellate Court.

(f) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, unless otherwise directed by the court, commencement of proceedings under subsections (a) and (d) of this section shall not operate as a stay of such order.

(g) Petitions filed under this section shall be heard expeditiously and determined upon the transcript filed, without requirement of printing. Hearings in the Superior Court or Appellate Court under this chapter shall take precedence over all other matters, except matters of the same character.

(1949 Rev., S. 7395; P.A. 76-436, S. 618, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127; P.A. 83-308, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 27, 82; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; 88-317, S. 34, 107; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4–6; P.A. 10-32, S. 103.)

History: P.A. 76-436 added references to judicial districts and replaced provision in Subsec. (c) which stated that appeals be taken as in other cases of appeal to the supreme court and that record is to contain “all that was before the lower court” with provision requiring that appeals be taken as provided “under section 52-7”, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted references to counties; P.A. 83-308 amended Subsec. (a) to allow the board to file its petition for enforcement of an order in the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford-New Britain if an appeal of the order has not been filed; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 deleted reference to supreme court and substituted appellate court in lieu thereof; P.A. 88-230 replaced “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” with “judicial district of Hartford”, effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 88-317 amended Subsec. (d) to require an appeal to be made “pursuant to the provisions of chapter 54,” instead of specifying the procedure for the appeal, and allowed an appeal to be made to the superior court in the judicial district of Hartford-New Britain, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 10-32 made a technical change in Subsec. (f), effective May 10, 2010.

Board’s decision conclusive if supported by substantial evidence. 14 CS 72; 19 CS 283. Court should allow reasonable time in which to act after modification. 17 CS 293. Certification of bargaining agent is not an order which is reviewable. 22 CS 132; Id., 137. Specification of reasons why appellant claims to be aggrieved should be set forth in appeal. Id., 136.

Subsec. (a):

Cited. 39 CS 338.

Subsec. (b):

“Substantial evidence” defined. 147 C. 142. On review, superior court can do no more, on factual questions presented, than to examine record to determine whether ultimate findings were supported by substantial evidence. 148 C. 135. Substantial evidence defined. Id. Cited. 149 C. 7. So long as there is substantial evidence supporting board’s findings, court is unable to interfere. 150 C. 597. Finding of fact by board cannot be disturbed unless not supported by substantial evidence. 160 C. 285. Cited. 173 C. 210. Cited. 175 C. 165; Id., 349.

Cited. 8 CA 57.

Cited. 39 CS 338.

Subsec. (c):

Appeal to supreme court from judgment of superior court rendered pursuant to Municipal Employees Relations Act is to be taken and prosecuted in same manner as other appeals to supreme court. 159 C. 46.

Subsec. (d):

Labor relations board decision as to appropriate bargaining unit and directing an election among members of that unit is not a final order of board and not directly appealable. 154 C. 530. Cited. 173 C. 210. Cited. 175 C. 165.

Cited. 8 CA 57. Cited. Id., 197.

Cited. 36 CS 18. Cited. 38 CS 80. Cited. 43 CS 340.