319 A.2d 511 | Conn. Super. Ct. | 1973
The plaintiff, hereinafter referred to as the firefighters' union, appeals from an order of the defendant board. Also joined as a defendant is the New London Police Union, Local 724, hereinafter referred to as the policemen's union. The appeal involves the so-called parity clause contained in a labor contract between the city of New London and the firefighters' union. The plaintiff invokes the provisions of the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act. General Statutes §§
The facts found by the board indicate that the firefighters' union entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the city of New London on February 9, 1972. The agreement with the policemen's union was not then in existence but was executed later, on July 10, 1972. The firefighters' contract contained the following parity clause in article 8 thereof: "Note 3. Any increase in wages which is granted to an employee of the Police Department, which is greater than that received by any employee of this Bargaining Unit who has the same relative length of service in a comparable rank to that held by such Police Department employee, shall be simultaneously granted and effective for such Bargaining Unit employee, and shall be in addition to the provisions of this agreement. For purposes of this Note, the following shall be considered ranks: Fire *17 Fighter with Patrolman; Fire Lieutenant with Police Sergeant; Fire Captain with Police Lieutenant; and Deputy Chief with Police Captain. For purposes of this Note, the term `increase in wages' shall mean and include any increase in salary and any additional payment for services currently being performed, and any provision for and/or any increase in night shift premium or differential pay, and/or any provision for and/or any increase in longevity pay, and/or any provision for and/or any increase in holiday pay or holiday benefits."
When the firefighters' union negotiated its contract, it sought to obtain premium pay for holidays. It failed in this regard. A similar demand was made by the policemen's union and was likewise unsuccessful. At one point in the contract discussions the city negotiator, in discussing holiday pay, told the policemen's union: "We can't give it to you because if we did we'd have to give it to the firemen."
In its "Conclusions of Law," the board stated that although there was no "satisfactory proof that the existence of the parity clauses in the firefighters' contract affected any specific item in the Police contract ..., the mere presence and necessary operation of such clause inevitably interferes with, restrains and coerces the Police Union in future negotiations with the City and the agreement upon such a clause constitutes a violation of [General Statutes] §
As findings favorable to the firefighters' union, the board concedes that "even in the absence of a parity clause there is a widespread but not uniform tradition among American cities of observing parity in fact between policemen and firemen ... and it is *18 common practice [in such instances for the City Negotiator] to stress the implications which any concession would have in terms of similar demands by other groups."
General Statutes §
Further, with regard to the question of "restraint" and "interference," there is the fact that this parity agreement is between one group — firemen — and the city which will impose equality for the future upon *19 another group — policemen — which has had no part in making the agreement. It is in this aspect of the case that the board levels its most telling and damaging charge against the parity clause. It reasons that, before the police union sits down to commence its bargaining with the city, it is already legally bound and tied in with the firemen. On this issue, the police union's right to bargain has been completely taken from it. As the board states: "We find that the inevitable tendency of such an agreement is to interfere with, restrain and coerce the right ... to have untrammeled bargaining. And this affects all the later negotiations ... even though it may be hard or impossible to trace by proof the effect of the parity clause upon any specific terms of the later contract.... The parity clause will seldom surface in later negotiations, but it will surely be present in the minds of the negotiators and have a restraining or coercive effect not always consciously realized." The board goes on to observe that the "economic terms offered to policemen and accepted by them were just the same as those previously given to the firemen."
Accordingly, it was concluded that General Statutes §
The brief of the firefighters' union cites a number of cases. As a general observation, it may be said that these cases are not in point; they are not concerned with General Statutes §§
For each of the Connecticut statutes involved, there is a corresponding federal statute under the National Labor Relations Act — viz., §§ 7 and 8 of the act.
The firefighters' brief asserts that the board found no actual interference with the police-city negotiations so as to affect any specific provision of the contract. In a case where improper company interference proved to be unsuccessful, the court stated: "The Respondents contend that the evidence fails to show that any employee was in fact intimidated or coerced by the statements of the Respondents, and for that reason it is a case of `damnum absque injuria,' making it a moot question unsuitable to be dealt with by any order of the Board. Such direct evidence, however, is unnecessary. As stated by the Board it is impossible to estimate the effect of such anti-union activities on employees generally and the reasonable inference is that anti-union conduct of an employer does have an adverse effect on self-organization and collective bargaining. The *21
test is whether the employer engaged in conduct which, it may reasonably be said, tends to interfere with the free exercise of employee rights under the Act. [Italics supplied.]" National Labor RelationsBoard v. Ford,
Evidence as to past events was introduced before the board as an aid in construing the parity clause. This was correctly disregarded by the board because, as it stated in its opinion, it was concerned, not with the historical or philosophical aspects, but rather with a narrow question of statutory construction.
Other cases in the firefighters' brief are inapplicable. Some involve more than one common employer. Others apply to parity for members within the same employee bargaining unit. In none of these situations does the parity clause interfere with the collective bargaining process. Still others were addressed to principles of arbitration law rather than to labor statutes.
The firefighters' brief also stressed the similarities between police and firemen. This is arguable. For example, General Statutes §
Acting under the powers conferred on it by General Statutes §
As stated, this court may reverse the ruling of the board only in the situations specified in General Statutes §
Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed and the order and ruling of the defendant board is affirmed.