Police lose bid to halt arbitration (Boston)

[Judi Lynn]

Police lose bid to halt arbitration
By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | July 21, 2004

A Superior Court judge yesterday rejected the police union's last-ditch bid to halt expedited arbitration, and proceedings began for a contract decision tomorrow.

Suffolk Superior Court Judge Margaret R. Hinkle ruled that safety at next week's Democratic National Convention outweighed the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association's argument that speeding up the arbitration process would leave too little time for the union to argue its case.

Officials including Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Governor Mitt Romney have said that a contract should be reached this week to stop pickets at the convention. Police will be insufficiently rested for the convention's security demands if they are picketing during off-hours, the officials have said.
(snip)

The ruling came down just minutes before lawyers for the city and the union were scheduled to appear at noon before arbitrator Lawrence T. Holden Jr., who is slated to produce a settlement by 2 p.m. tomorrow. He oversaw 10 hours of closed-door proceedings yesterday during which the city presented its case.
(snip/...)

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/conventions/articles/2004/07/21/police_lose_bid_to_halt_arbitration/

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Why do the police think arbitration is bad?

In my time with a union, I felt that arbitration was helpful, because by the point we got there, we weren't going to get anything without help. Sure, they might not get everything they want, but they will get some things. And they can work to get more next contract time.

[AndyTiedye]

2. Because They are Going to Cheney Up the Democratic Convention

I don't know what kind of deal Rove has made with the union leadership,
but this has his fingerprints all over it.