In 1947, the Michigan Legislature passed the Public Employment Relations Act (PERA), which allowed public-sector employees, for the first time, to organize and enter into collective bargaining agreements (contracts). PERA today remains the principle statute governing disputes involving public-sector labor organizations and government employees, including Michigan public school districts.

The Department of Employee and Labor Relations  is the Wayne State University unit that is responsible for contract interpretation, as well as advising and counseling managers/ supervisors (pertaining to non-academic represented [unionized] personnel) relative to:  employee attendance, work performance, minor and major misconduct, workplace violence, workplace behavior (workplace interactions), workplace investigations, and any resulting disciplinary action(s).  Management should contact Labor Relations first, to review and discuss their issue. The Department of Employee and Labor Relations also negotiates and administers all non-academic contracts, is responsible for grievance administration, management training, and represents Wayne State University in grievance arbitration, mediation, fact-finding, and other labor-based hearings.