Recent Developments

Just because an employee has been disciplined in the past does not mean that an employer has the right to terminate him or her for a subsequent offense. Attorney Ian Russell persuaded an arbitrator that "just cause" language requires an employer to document performance issues and to notify an employee that termination will result from future misconduct. The arbitrator here reinstated the employee under a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by 1199SEIU United Health Care Workers East.

The Herald News spotlights efforts of Fall River Fire Fighters Local 1314 IAFF to oppose the recent layoff of 27 Fire Fighters. Attorney Leah Barrault was on hand to forcefully advocate for Local 1314 and its members.

A state administrative law judge determined that Medford Fire Chief Frank Giliberti engaged in textbook illegal retaliation by reprimanding the President of Medford Fire Fighters Association Local 1032, IAFF, and a grievant for pursuing settlement discussions with a mayor's representative. Attorney Jillian Ryan represented Local 1032 in this matter.

Today, the five conservatives of the U.S. Supreme Court ruled ruled, that state-paid homecare workers cannot be required to pay their fair share of the costs of union representation to the union elected by a majority to serve as their the exclusive bargaining representative. The Supreme Court’s decision from Harris v.

The Boston office of Pyle Rome Ehrenberg has moved. Please make a note of our new address:

2 Liberty Square, 10th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
tel: (617) 367-7200
fax: (617) 367-4820

In order to better serve Pyle Rome's large and growing base of union clients in Vermont and to provide more complete representation to those unions and their employee members, Pyle Rome Attorney Alfred Gordon O'Connell recently obtained his license to practice law in Vermont. Attorney Gordon O'Connell will continue to focus his practice exclusively on the rights of workers in Massachusetts, Vermont and across New England. Attorney Gordon O'Connell was sworn in by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani.

1199SEIU United Health Care Workers East (Mass) negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with American Red Cross/New England that provided a spectrum of pay rates for employees. The parties eliminated language that created a maximum pay rate. Attorney David Rome convinced an independent arbitrator that the American Red Cross violated the contract by capping pay at maximum rates .

On June 3, 2014, a tripartite arbitration panel issued a landmark decision in favor of IBEW, Local 2321 (in Northeastern Massachusetts) and IBEW, Local 2324 (in Western Massachusetts) in a hard-fought case over Verizon's surprise decision to close call centers only a few months after signing a new contract in which Verizon promised to “staff up” centers in those local areas.

Medford Fire Fighters Union, Local 1032 held back yet another attempt by the Fire Chief at seeking unnecessary access to medical records from firefighters returning to work after using personal sick leave. In a case orchestrated by Attorney Leah Barrault and tried by Attorney Alfred Gordon O'Connell, the arbitrator held that the City had violated the clearly established past practice of allowing firefighters to return to work based solely on notification from their doctors that they are fit to return, without the release of any further medical information.

The Commonwealth Employee Relations Board (CERB) ruled unanimously that the City of Chelsea violated its duty to bargain in good faith when it failed to take appropriate steps to secure funding for a new contract issued by an arbitrator. Attorneys Leah Barrault, Alfred Gordon O'Connell and Jillian Ryan represented the Chelsea FireFighters Local 937, IAFF, at various points over several years in the interest arbitration, funding and unfair labor practice proceedings.