December 12, 2011

Decisions issued by PERB

Reduction of services

A public employer that reduces services has the burden of showing that such reduction was made in good faith for a proper purpose. Such a showing will support workload and salary reductions proportionate to the reduction in service. Reductions in workload and salary without proportionate reductions in services are subject to negotiations under the Taylor Law (Schulerville Central School District, Case U-4212).

Protected rights

Permanently changing the work hours of employee who was union president and limiting his “leave for union business” to four hours during each tour held violation of employee’s protected rights; contract authorized up to 16 hours of such leave per week, subject to employer approval. Matter of City of Mount Vernon, Case U-4688.

Subcontracting unit work

Unilaterally subcontracting for school lunch program that resulted in termination of food service employees was in violation of the School District’s duty to bargain the impact of such a decision. Although the employer was ordered to offer employees reinstatement, back salary was denied because the district had made a good faith offer of alternative employment without loss of salary or benefits at the time of the subcontracting. (Matter of Hilton Central School District, Case U-4887)

Negotiate in good faith

Union violated its duty to negotiate in good faith when it refused to sign the contract reflecting all the agreements reached and ratified by the members of the Union with the County following conclusion of negotiations and was directed to execute the Agreement (Matter of Onondaga County, Case U-4807).

CAUTION

Subsequent court and administrative rulings, or changes to laws, rules and regulations may have modified or clarified or vacated or reversed the information and, or, decisions summarized in NYPPL. For example, New York State Department of Civil Service's Advisory Memorandum 24-08 reflects changes required as the result of certain amendments to §72 of the New York State Civil Service Law to take effect January 1, 2025 [See Chapter 306 of the Laws of 2024]. Advisory Memorandum 24-08 in PDF format is posted on the Internet at https://www.cs.ny.gov/ssd/pdf/AM24-08Combined.pdf. Accordingly, the information and case summaries should be Shepardized® or otherwise checked to make certain that the most recent information is being considered by the reader.

NYPPL Blogger Harvey Randall served as Principal Attorney, New York State Department of Civil Service; Director of Personnel, SUNY Central Administration; Director of Research, Governor’s Office of Employee Relations; and Staff Judge Advocate General, New York Guard. Consistent with the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations, the material posted to this blog is presented with the understanding that neither the publisher nor NYPPL and, or, its staff and contributors are providing legal advice to the reader and in the event legal or other expert assistance is needed, the reader is urged to seek such advice from a knowledgeable professional.