(a) A charge of “refusal to bargain” or a charge that, if sustained,
would require the setting aside of an election or the conduct of a new
election shall be given priority.
(b) The parties, individually or jointly, may petition the panel at any
time to invoke immediately the formal hearing procedures set forth in section
269b.410. They may also petition the panel to entertain the matter itself
without prior investigation and/or without the formal hearing procedure set
forth in section 269b.410. The panel is empowered also on its own motion to
so accelerate disposition of the case.
(c) Before accelerating a case the panel may utilize whatever proceedings
it may deem appropriate and timely to allow parties in interest to comment on
the proposed course of action.