JD Journal » collective bargaining

Wisconsin Senate Passes Controversial Anti-Union Measure

joshua — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 02:58:35 +0000

For three weeks, the Wisconsin Senate has been unable to take action on a controversial measure that strips public employee unions of many rights and powers because Senate Democrats fled to Illinois in a procedural move to deny quorum. However, today the Senate managed to get around that by removing the financial portions of the bill, and bills that don’t involve spending have a lower quorum threshold.

The new law strips public employee unions of the right collectively bargarin for anything other than wages, while capping raises at the rate of inflation. It also requires them to cover a larger percentage of their pension accounts and health care premiums, and it prohibits unions from having mandatory membership with dues deducted from paychecks.

DC AG Limits FH; AFGE Is MAD

Erik Even — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:07:59 +0000

District of Columbia Attorney General Peter Nickles is amending a flexible hours plan for attorneys, and the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1403 is challenging the move.

Since it was put into place in 2005 by DC’s then-Attorney General Robert J. Spagnoletti, lawyers can take one day off a week if they make up the hours at other times.

Nickels has altered the plan, limiting which days of the week can be taken off, and limiting days off to 20% of lawyers at one time.

The union says that by making unilateral changes to the flexible hours plan, Nickles has violated a collective bargaining agreement. The union says three quarters of the lawyers in the AG’s office take advantage of the plan; and the office uses the plan as a carrot for recruitment.

Union Defends Jobs of Deputy District Attorneys

Erik Even — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:13:37 +0000

The American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees is attempting to block a Polk County, Oregon District Attorney from sacking five deputy district attorneys.

District Attorney-elect Stan Butterfield notified the office’s five deputy district attorneys that he would be interviewing and hiring new attorneys once taking office.

In a letter to the current staff, Butterfield wrote:

“This letter shall serve as formal notification to you that upon my taking office as District Attorney for Polk County, your current appointment as deputy district attorney will expire. If you wish to be considered for subsequent appointment by me, please contact my secretary…

The AFSCME insists that Butterfield is overstepping his authority. AFSCME Local 173′s Don Loving:

“The union that represents Polk County employees … will vigorously oppose any effort by Polk County District Attorney-elect Stan Butterfield to replace any of the current five deputy district attorneys.”

Butterfield insists that the deputy DAs are “at will” employees; the union replies that’s a misunderstanding of Oregon labor law.

“These are employees represented by a legal and binding collective bargaining agreement. Mr. Butterfield’s election comes with no magic wand that eliminates that agreement. Moreover, this exact same type of case has been litigated several times all the way to the Oregon Supreme Court, and the courts have been clear in siding with the represented employees.”

Loving said a union attorney has sent Butterfield a letter outlining the legal history of similar cases.

In Oregon, elected district attorneys have the leeway to appoint replacement deputies in the event of a resignation or to terminate with reasonable cause. But the district attorney is not authorized to make a carte blanche change.

Via The Statesman-Journal.