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New Haven Police Establish Their Own Union

In January, 2013, I reported in this newsletter that I assisted officers of the Waterbury police department in forming their own independent union, the Brass City Local of the Connecticut Alliance of City Police, (“CACP”). By a 78% vote by secret ballot conducted by the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations, (“Labor Board”), the officers chose to separate from their union, Council 15 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, (“AFSCME”), and form their own independent union.

In a little more than a year later, another union of police officers has chosen to do the same thing, in another election in which I assisted the officers. In an election conducted by the Labor Board on February 25, 2014, the police officer members likewise chose to decertify from AFSCME and form their own union, the Elm City Local of the CACP. Of the 234 police officers voting in the election, approximately 93% voted to form the Elm City Local.

All labor laws covering private and public sector workers provide the choice for individuals to choose whether or not to be represented by a union in collective bargaining matters with their employer. The protections of collective bargaining representation by a union prevent arbitrary or discriminatory employer conduct and provide a mechanism for the resolution of workplace disputes which are called grievances. Under a union contract, workers may only be disciplined for “just cause,” which the employer has the burden of proof before a third-party neutral.

These same labor laws also provide an opportunity, i.e., a “window,” for union members to decertify or separate from their union and be represented by a different union. While the Brass City’s 78% vote was remarkable, the Elm City Local’s vote sends a strong message to the City of New Haven that the members of that police union are united behind their local union leaders.