NEPBA LOCALS 75 & 80 PREVAIL AT JLMC

The New England Police Benevolent Association Local 80 and local 75, in Somerset, Massachusetts ended nearly four years of contract negotiations when on Friday, February 27, 2015 the Joint Labor – Management Committee (JLMC) handed down the Interest Arbitration Award. The Arbitration Tri-Panel was made up of the neutral Arbitrator and Chair of the Arbitration Panel Richard G. Boulanger, Esquire; Police Representative Ken Scanzio; and Management Representative, Gerry Hayes. The New England P.B.A. Locals 80 & 75, last contract with the Town of Somerset expired June 30, 2012.

“I am very pleased about the outcome of this award as the Town was only offering a one percent pay raise over this three year contract period. The Arbitration Panel review all of the documents present and handed down a fair arbitration award in favor of the hard work members in Somerset” said New England Police Benevolent Association State Director Sean R. McArdle.

“The members of Local 80 are very pleased with the decision in our recent arbitration case. The decision is a positive outcome after years spent at the table in unsuccessful negotiations. We thank the NEPBA, and specifically Sean McArdle, for guiding us through this lengthy, but ultimately successful, process” said Somerset Police Patrol Association, Local 80 President William Tedford.

“This was our first time ever as a group at contract arbitration. As we have come to expect, the NEPBA was extremely well prepared and ready to present our case to the panel in a highly professional fashion” said Somerset Police Superior Officers’ Association Local 75 President Jeff Cote. “We recently received an Award, which we all feel is a fair resolution to this long process. This would not have been possible without NEPBA and Sean McArdle”.

NEPBA Local 75 President Cote continued “NEPBA and Sean have represented both locals in Somerset for many years. Our membership and Executive Boards have the utmost respect and trust in his work ethic, and NEPBA’s representation. The entire membership of the Somerset Police Department would like to take this opportunity to thank the NEPBA for their diligent work on this difficult contract and for the exemplary representation that we receive each and every day, on issues both large and small.”