NHLN Exclusive: AFT-NH Takes Pittsfield ‘FREE SPEECH’ Case To The NH PELRB And WINS!
Source: New Hampshire Labor News
Pittsfield, NH- In a statement released today, Richard Walter, President of the Pittsfield Town Employees, AFT-NH, AFT Local #6214 reacted to today’s decision by the NH Public Employee Labor Relations Board on Unfair Labor Practice Charges filed against the Town last spring.
Mr. Walter stated, “Our members stood together to stand up for important rights to be heard about their working conditions which affect public services. We are extremely pleased with the decision of the PELRB. I am proud of the commitment to fairness and public service our members have shown throughout this long, grueling process. Our members care deeply about the services they provide to the residents of Pittsfield and the attempts to prohibit our speech was harmful to the public discourse which must occur in our communities as we determine the quality and level of services we provide. We look forward to building a positive working relationship with the Board of Selectmen as we move forward and some positive changes have already occurred. ”
The charges alleged that the Board of Selectmen had violated RSA 273-A, the NH Public Employee Labor Relations Act and breached the collective bargaining agreement between the parties when it issued a directive denying overtime and details to full-time bargaining unit members in the first instance.
The charges also alleged an infringement of the employee’s rights to speak to the public about their conditions of employment. Additional charges were made by the Union that the Selectmen had improperly changed the schedules of the police and ambulance departments. The Union prevailed on the charges regarding free speech of its’ members under the public employee labor relations act, overtime and details. Back pay provisions regarding detail and overtime have been awarded to make the employees whole for the denial of working these details and being denied overtime shifts. The Board ruled with the Town on the issue of the schedules; however, since the original charges were filed, the schedules have reverted to those in place prior to the filing of the charges.
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://nhlabornews.com/2012/12/nhln-exclusive-aft-nh-takes-pittsfield-free-speech-case-to-the-nh-pelrb-and-wins/
It is time to add the NHLN to the blog roll. It has made LBN a couple times. It gave us a 12 hour exclusive about a month ago.
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