City, Portsmouth Police Commission drop labor grievance

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080426/GJNEWS_01/939294304/-1/FOSNEWS

By CHARLES McMAHON
[e-mail]
Article Date: Saturday, April 26, 2008

PORTSMOUTH — An unfair labor practice grievance filed against the city's patrolmen union in January has been dropped by police officials, according to Police Commission Chairman Jerry Howe.

"Both parties are satisfied," said Howe, "and it didn't cost the city anything."

The agreement was reached last Friday, said Howe, and involved both parties meeting to hash out specific details of the solution.

The city and the Police Commission filed the unfair labor practice complaint with the state Public Employee Labor Relations Board on Jan. 29.

The grievance alleged the Portsmouth Police Patrolmen's Union, along with Detective Steve Arnold, violated a provision in the parties collective bargaining agreement, which states that "neither the Union nor any Union Officer, Representative or employee shall engage in, induce or encourage any strike, walk-out, work stoppage, sit-down, slowdown, withholding of services, or any other interference with the operations of the Police Department."

According to the unfair labor practice complaint filed by the city, Arnold interrupted a Jan. 7 sergeant's exam and "in effect encouraged other officers to protest against the exam by walking out of the room with him."


FULL story at link.