Complaint Issued Against Town of Scituate For Changing Fire Promotional Process Without Bargaining

Following an investigation, the Department of Labor Relations today issued a complaint alleging that the Town of Scituate violated its legal obligations to Scituate Firefighters Union, Local 1464 by unilaterally adding components to Lieutenant promotional process. Attorney Patrick Bryant represented Local 1464 during the DLR investigation.

For decades, the Town relied exclusively upon standard Civil Service process to promote fire fighters to the rank of Lieutenant. Candidates were ranked based upon a mixture of examination score (80 percent of ranking) and education and experience (20 percent of ranking). In December 2014, the Town changed the process by adding an assessment center and/or oral interview component. The Town provided no notice to the Union or opportunity to bargain prior to adding these components.

The validity of the Town's actions now will be determined through an evidentiary hearing by a DLR hearing officer and by the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board