N.A. appeals arbitration award to PBA

By Ron Leir

NORTH ARLINGTON –
This borough is challenging a state arbitrator’s award that gives its cops 2.5% pay raises in 2012 and 2013, alleging that the police union gave the arbitrator misleading information on the police chief’s contract – info that likely swayed the arbitrator’s thinking.
Although both sides to an “interest arbitration” like this one are normally obliged to accept the arbitrator’s decision, the borough claims it has the right to appeal because the Police Benevolent Association submitted a “fraudulent document” to advance its bargaining position.
Neither David Ryan, the local PBA president, nor Richard Loccke, the PBA attorney, returned phone messages requesting comment on the  allegation.
It is unclear how the state Public Employment Relations Commission will deal with the borough’s appeal.

To read the full story, see this week’s issue of The Observer.

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