(a) The services of the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration shall be available to employers or employee organizations designated as the exclusive bargaining representative for purposes of settlement of grievances arising out of the interpretation and application of the terms of a written agreement, for mediation of impasses in contract negotiations, for purposes of arbitration of disputes over the interpretation or application of the terms of a written agreement and for arbitration of impasses resulting from negotiations over unit contracts, unit reopeners and coalition bargaining matters as provided in subsection (f) of section 5-278 .
(b) Nothing contained herein shall prevent the use of other arbitration tribunals in the resolution of disputes between employers and designated employee organizations.