State House – Governor Deval Patrick signed the State Budget yesterday, which also included an amendment by Senator Michael Moore (D-Worcester) to add the New England PBA, I.U.P.A., AFL-CIO to the list of potential police organizations the Governor may appoint to the Joint Labor-Management Committee (JLMC).  The JLMC is the state agency, which appoints fact-finders and arbitrators to adjudicate contractual disputes between municipalities and their respective police & firefighters unions.

NEPBA representatives have met several times with Governor Patrick, as well as Lt. Governor Tim Murray regarding a host of issues, including the Quinn Bill Educational Incentive program, the issue of Flaggers vs. Police Details and Pension Reform issues.  NEPBA also cited the need to be at the table with respect to these issues and our growing membership warrants inclusion on the list of police organizations the Governor may select as appointments to the JLMC.

The Governor and Lt. Governor were extremely well-versed in the areas we discussed and understood our position with regards to inclusion and more positive dialogue with local police organizations and our ability to address those concerns in a productive manner.  NEPBA was also appointed by the Governor to a committee studying the Educational Benefits of Police Officers and NEPBA President Bryan W. McMahon appointed NEPBA Local 911 President Steve Gunnerson of the Worcester Police Patrolman’s Union to serve as our designee. 

 NEPBA Executive Director Jerry Flynn stated, “We have worked extremely hard to get our message of inclusion and to develop a working relationship with Governor Patrick and his administration, however we also have serious differences of opinion with respect to police details and his position of utilizing civilian flaggers.” Flynn added, “NEPBA is committed to continuing the positive dialogue we have developed with this administration and we are hopeful that our ideas and the concerns of our membership will become of paramount concern to the Patrick Administration.”

New England PBA Regional Vice President Tom Daly, who was instrumental in lobbying passage of the JLMC legislation stated, “We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Lt. Governor Tim Murray, Senator Michael Moore, Senator Steven Brewer and House Ways and Means Chairman Charley Murphy for the great job they did in securing passage of this amendment.”

NEPBA Legislative Director Russ Taylor called the addition of the NEPBA to the JLMC list of organizations – “a monumental step forward by this administration”.  He also noted the opposition of other unions to our inclusion, including IBPO, as “nothing more than sour grapes and a disgusting display of childish behavior from those who talk about Unity, but lack the real words of what a brotherhood is all about!”