Recent Developments

Local 2327 of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with FairPoint Communications, Inc. that provides moving expenses to employees when they are transferred to a new home base. Attorneys Alfred Gordon O'Connell and James Hykel persuaded an arbitrator to enforce this language after FairPoint denied moving expenses to an outside plant technician (OPT) represented by Local 2327.

A federal judge denied a motion by Verizon to prevent a International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local from holding a disciplinary hearing against a member. Attorneys Alfred Gordon O'Connell and James Hykel persuaded the judge that Verizon failed to show it would face irreparable harm if the disciplinary hearing proceeded.

A federal judge denied a motion by Verizon to prevent a International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local from holding a disciplinary hearing against a member. Attorneys Alfred Gordon O'Connell and James Hykel persuaded the judge that Verizon failed to show it would face irreparable harm if the disciplinary hearing proceeded.

The Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts holds its biennial John F. Jennings Educational Seminar June 1-4 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center. Attorneys Leah Barrault and Patrick Bryant are two of just three union attorneys invited to present at the prestigious convention. The Seminar, held every two years, is attended by fire fighter union locals from throughout the Commonwealth.

A recent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) case involving an employee of a Hooters franchise being terminated for complaining about an unfair bikini competition termination provides a nice demonstration of how the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) benefits even non-union employees.

An arbitrator has determined that Steward Health Care lacked just cause to terminate a veteran employee accused of illegally accessing a patient's medical records for 30 seconds. Attorney Patrick Bryant represented 1199SEIU United Health Care Workers East (Mass) in this arbitration.

In April 2014, the state Department of Children and Families (DCF) withdrew a supported finding of abuse against a group-home employee who was alleged to have neglected a teenaged resident of the home by failing to monitor her Internet usage, particularly the emails she sent and received while sitting at a computer in the living room in the group home.

Following an investigation, the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations has issued a complaint, alleging that the City of Boston unilaterally changed the procedure used to promote police officers within the Department. Attorney Patrick Bryant represented the Boston Police Superior Officers Federation, which first filed a charge. The two other Boston police unions -- the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association and the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society - also filed charges that were combined into a single hearing.

The Town of Greenfield proposed to implement a policy regulating employment of family members and close relations. For many, public safety work is a time-honored, family calling. Attorney Terence Coles filed a petition on behalf of 10 voters, including representatives of Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Coalition of Police, asking the Civil Service Commission to investigate this proposal.

In response, the Town agreed that the policy will not apply to Civil Service employees.

Attorney Betsy Ehrenberg, on behalf of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, persuaded a neutral arbitrator that Tobey Hospital did not have the right to canceled scheduled regular shifts of a certified nursing assistant (CNA) because she worked overtime.