Report on the Portal to Portal Grievance.
I know there are a lot of questions concerning the Portal to Portal grievance/arbitration, so I wanted to
take this opportunity to bring everyone up to date.
The week of July 14th, we had another hearing in regards to the portal to portal arbitration. During
this hearing, our attorneys presented evidence, and witnesses to support our case.
The hearing lasted all week. The next hearing date is scheduled for January of 2009. I have said from the
beginning, as well as the rest of the Executive Board that this will be a long ordeal before it is through.
I’m certain, that if our attorneys do what they are being paid to do, we will prevail.
Earlier this year, we also had an arbitration hearing on the way overtime has been distributed for the airlifts.
Another of our attorney’s Rick Ramsey out of Little Rock Arkansas represented the Union.
The Arbitrator decided in that greivance, that the Agency did in fact violate the Master Agreement, and that
the over time was not distributed fairly or equitably.
The Arbitrator ordered a damages hearing currently scheduled for September. I expect some type of settlement
offer from the Agency prior to that hearing.
We also had two other arbitration hearings so far this year, one regarding the Union’s rights, and the
other where the Union has alleged that a certain management official at Lewisburg violated the Meritorious Promotion Principles
through pre-selection.
We are awaiting a decision from the arbitrator on the Union’s rights, and the second one has been rescheduled
for February of next year, as settlement talks with the Agency proved unproductive.
We also have another arbitration currently scheduled for this month regarding medical certification.
As you can see, we are very busy ensuring that the Master Agreement is being adhered to by management. If
the only way management will honor the Master Agreement is through third party decisions, then that’s what it will take.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact myself or any E-Board
member.
In Unity,
Dan Bensinger
President
