August 18, 2025
By Jim Cline and Sam Hagshenas
In Minnesota Department of Corrections, an Arbitrator ruled that various Unions failed to demonstrate a binding past practice of paying employees for misallocated overtime when the Employer made errors in overtime distribution.
Filed Under: Contract Interpretation
July 31, 2025
By Jim Cline and Amy Liden
In the City of Poulsbo, the arbitrator ruled the Chief of Police reasonably disciplined a Poulsbo officer with a one-day suspension without pay for issuing a retaliatory parking ticket to his neighbor.
Filed Under: Arbitration Rulings, Discipline, Loudermill
April 29, 2025
By Jim Cline and Sam Hagshenas
In an Arbitration decision between the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio Patrolman’s Benevolent Association, the Arbitrator reduced the punishment of a corrections officer who had grabbed the neck of an inmate. At issue was County policy that designated application of force to someone’s neck as “deadly force.”
Filed Under: Arbitration Rulings, Discipline
November 27, 2024
By Jim Cline and Peter Haller
In Office Workers Association of Michigan v. Renner, the Michigan Supreme Court held charging service fees for non-paying members of a bargaining unit is a violation of the duty of fair representation. The Court reasoned that an exclusive bargaining unit takes on the responsibility to represent all members, regardless of whether or not they pay dues.
Filed Under: Duty of Fair Representation
August 30, 2024
By Jim Cline and Peter Haller
In Andrade v City of Milwaukee, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court ruled that a police officer fired for making racist comments on Facebook was not entitled to getting his job back because of an alleged pre-termination due process violation. The Court reasoned that the officer was entitled to notice of the charges against him, but not to all the information related to factors involved in determining the level of discipline imposed.
Filed Under: Discipline, Discrimination, Loudermill, Other Procedure Issues, Race Discrimination
August 1, 2024
By Jim Cline and Peter Haller
In City of New Albany, an Ohio arbitrator ruled that a shortened work week for three police officers following extensive work on a holiday weekend was not a violation of the CBA agreement. The Arbitrator reasoned that although the CBA guaranteed a 40-hour work week, a specific provision gave the Employer authority to temporarily adjust schedules according to department needs.
Filed Under: Uncategorized
May 1, 2024
By Jim Cline and Peter Haller
In Maxson v Baldwin, an Ohio deputy sheriff sued his ex-Employer after he was discharged following a guilty plea to the misdemeanor of attempting to illegally fill an opioid prescription and testing positive for marijuana. The lawsuit alleged that the Employer discriminated against him by failing to accommodate him under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
