In the course of mediation of a labor agreement dispute of employees, except a grievance dispute concerning the interpretation or application of an existing labor agreement, if the dispute has not been resolved to the agreement of both parties within 30 days after the submission of the dispute to mediation, or within further additional periods to which the parties may agree, the department or the employees may initiate binding arbitration proceedings by making a prompt request for those proceedings in writing to the other party and by furnishing a copy of the request to the employment relations commission.
MCL 423.273