ARBITRATOR RULES TOWN MUST MAKE GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO FILL OFFICER VACANCIES IN BELLOWS FALLS, VERMONT.
From the desk of Executive Secretary Bill Ryan
This was a contractual issue regarding staffing levels and whether the CBA at issue required the Employer to maintain two officer coverage on all shifts. Typically, minimum manning provisions in contracts are not enforceable past one year, however, this was not a minimum manning issue as much as it was a hiring issue.
The arbitrator essentially held that the employer was obligated to make a good faith effort to fill officer vacancies per the contract language and that they failed to do so. The decision goes on to further order the employer to provide the union with monthly updates outlining their specific recruitment efforts for obtaining additional staffing. This is significant, especially given the pandemic and the impact such has had on staffing levels across the Board.