Vanderveer v. Ohio Assn. of Pub. School Emp.

**What Happened** An employee filed a lawsuit against the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, claiming the organization violated her employment contract and engaged in unfair labor practices. She brought her case directly to court, seeking legal remedies for the alleged violations. **What the Court Decided** The court dismissed the employee's lawsuit, but not because her claims lacked merit. Instead, the judge ruled that the court was not the right place to bring these types of complaints. The court determined that even though the employee framed her issues as contract violations, her allegations actually described unfair labor practices that fall under state labor law. Under Ohio law, the State Employee Relations Board (SERB) has exclusive authority to handle these specific types of workplace disputes first, not the courts. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling highlights an important procedural requirement for public sector workers in Ohio. If you believe your employer committed unfair labor practices, you must file your complaint with SERB before going to court. The good news is that workers aren't left without options—SERB can investigate and address these claims, and depending on their decision, you may still be able to pursue court action later. Workers should understand the proper channels for their specific type of workplace complaint.