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Posted by: fscpd907

Cop union chief accused of unfair communication
By Crystal Bozek/ Daily News Staff
Wednesday, November 15, 2006

MARLBOROUGH -- The city's labor counsel has slapped an unfair labor practice charge against the police union, after the group contacted city councilors to discuss health insurance amid contract negotiations.

Patrick Hogan, president of the Marlborough Police Patrol Officers Association, e-mailed councilors last week, asking them to attend a meeting Nov. 16 at the American Legion Hall.

His invitation promised "an expert on hand to explain the union's understanding of the $4 million health insurance fund deficit."

"The City Council is a legislative body not to be involved with negotiations," attorney D. M. Moschos, the city's labor counsel, said Monday. "It's inappropriate."

Moschos filed the claim Friday with the state's Labor Relations Commission, arguing that Hogan's e-mail violated the terms of a collective bargaining chain where unions must only deal with the bargaining agent -- the mayor.

The city's collective bargaining units and several unions, including the police, have come to an impasse in contract negotiations over past management of the city's health insurance trust fund, which racked up a $4 million deficit between 2000 and 2003.

The deficit is in litigation before the American Arbitration Association.

Unions have seen a 107-percent increase in health insurance premiums in the last five years. They blame the city for increasing the premiums in order to cover the employees' 30 percent of the $4 million deficit.

Hogan called the charge a violation of union members' First Amendment rights.

"We will fight this charge vigorously," he said. "Obviously, the city wants to keep the council in the dark on this issue. We wanted to present them our understanding of the deficit."

He questioned why Mayor Nancy Stevens could present her proposed city employee health care plan at a recent City Council meeting, while unions could not.

"It is obvious they do not want the council informed on the issue," Hogan said.

Moschos said the mayor can do so because she is also the chief executive of the city.

"She has the right to report to the City Council," he said.

Stevens and the police union have waged a war of press releases in the past month over the health insurance deficit. City employees have held two health insurance informational pickets this fall in front of City Hall, each time drawing between 200 to 300 employees.

Police and DPW workers even picketed in front of Coral Seafood, where Stevens was scheduled to host a fund-raiser for Lt. Gov-elect Tim Murray but canceled when Murray said he would not cross a picket line.

"They are just trying to silence us," Hogan said.

The Labor Relations Commission can only ask the union to cease and desist from contacting councilors or similar activities if an investigation finds the union at fault.

(Crystal Bozek can be reached at 508-490-7453 or cbozek@cnc.com.)

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Posted by: Officer Dunngeon



What does DAD think about this???

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Posted by: mr.anttrax

Quote:

Originally Posted by Officer Dunngeon What does DAD think about this???

That's the first thing I thought of when I read the subject line.

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