Fairbanks Fire Fighters Ass'n, Local 1324 v. City of Fairbanks

Summary

The Alaska Supreme Court held that the appeal was technically moot but warranted review under the public interest exception to the mootness doctrine. The court ruled that AS 23.40.210 gives the Alaska Labor Relations Agency jurisdiction to determine whether a labor dispute is arbitrable under a collective bargaining agreement. The court reversed the superior court's contrary ruling and affirmed the agency's determination that it had authority to decide arbitrability.

Holdings

1. The appeal was moot because the union had already obtained the relief it sought and the court could not provide any further effective relief concerning the intermediate jurisdictional question.
2. The public interest exception applied, allowing the court to decide the moot jurisdictional issue.
3. AS 23.40.210 reserves to the Alaska Labor Relations Agency the power to determine whether a dispute is arbitrable under a collective bargaining agreement.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the appeal was moot because the union had already obtained the ultimate relief it sought below.
2. Whether the public interest exception to the mootness doctrine permitted review of the otherwise moot jurisdictional issue.
3. Whether AS 23.40.210 gives the Alaska Labor Relations Agency authority to determine whether a dispute is arbitrable under a collective bargaining agreement.

Disposition

reversed