Recent Developments

On December 12, the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency charged with overseeing private sector labor disputes and elections, announced that it plans to revise the rules governing the formation of unions. The majority of the five-member Board are GOP/business representatives; two are Trump appointees. And the General Counsel, who investigates and prosecutes labor act violations, was appointed by Trump.

The dedicated firefighters/paramedics of the Town of Oak Bluffs are one step closer to justice, after a Department of Labor Relations investigator today issued an 11-count complaint against the Town. The complaint stems almost exclusively from the alleged tyrannical behavior of Fire Chief John Rose. Attorneys James Hykel and Patrick Bryant have represented the IAFF Local throughout this process. Meanwhile, the Town has spent about $50,000 of taxpayer monies to defend its Chief.

A collective bargaining agreement with Haverhill Fire Fighters Union, Local 1011 IAFF clearly required the City of Haverhill to pay Captain's rate to the Superintendent of Fire Alarm (SFA), according to a new arbitrator ruling. Attorney Leah Barrault represents Local 1011. The Arbitrator, whose Award is attached below, agreed that the contract language was clear and that the individual in the SFA position actually performed the duties of an SFA. As a result, she ruled deserved to be paid the SFA rate set forth in the contract, regardless of the actual name given by the City to the position.

In a case brought by the Medford Fire Fighters Union, Local 1032, an arbitrator found that the Fire Chief engages in discipline without just cause when he assigns Firefighters to three make-up shifts in Fire Alarm when they call in sick for just one tour. Pyle Rome attorney Leah Barrault prepared the case, and her partner Al Gordon O'Connell represented the Union at arbitration.

On October 10, 2017, an arbitrator issued a decision finding that the City of Chelsea violated the firefighters' contract when it stopped backfilling for the Deputy Chief of Training and Safety when he was out on leave. Pyle Rome partner Leah Barrault serves as counsel to the Chelsea Fire Fighters Association, Local 937, and her partner Al Gordon O'Connell represented the Union in this case.

The lawyers and staff of Union-side labor firm Pyle Rome Ehrenberg PC are pleased to congratulate our associate Mark Macchi on passing the Massachusetts Bar Exam.

Mark, a recent Northeastern Law graduate and lifelong resident of West Roxbury, began working as an associate at Pyle Rome in May after serving two clerkships with our office. He has distinguished himself as a passionate advocate for working men and women, with a particular emphasis on public safety, and we are excited to be working with him.

Late last week, the Professional Fire Fighters of Vermont, IAFF, AFL-CIO (PFFV) filed a brief in the Vermont Supreme Court in support of the Vermont NEA, which is fighting attempts by local school boards to force negotiations to take place in open meetings.

A union has a right to bargain aspects or impacts of a voluntary mediation program for citizen complaints against police officers, according to a new ruling by a Department of Labor Relations Hearing Officer. Attorney Patrick Bryant successfully persuaded the Hearing Officer that the City of Boston's unilateral implementation of a "voluntary mediation program" violated the City's bargaining obligations to the Boston Police Superior Officers Federation.

The City of Holyoke removed a critical fire engine from service without bargaining first with the Holyoke Firefighters Association, Local 1693, IAFF. Attorney Patrick Bryant successfully represented Local 1693 in the efforts to obtain a complaint alleging that the City's actions committed an unfair labor practice.

Congratulations to the newest union of Massachusetts fire fighters: Oak Bluffs Professional Firefighters & Paramedics, IAFF Local 5137. Today, the Department of Labor Relations certified the local as the exclusive bargaining representative of full-time and part-time fire fighters (except for the Chief). Attorney James Hykel worked with the fire fighters and Robert McCarthy, the IAFF district field service representative and former president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, to make the Union status official.