NEW CANAAN, Conn. New Canaan Police Local 1575 has filed a complaint with the State Board of Labor Relations accusing the town of bargaining in bad faith.
The union says that during contract negotiations town officials told them incorrectly that no town unions would receive increased pension benefits. The police union said it later learned that the firefighters union received an improvement to the spousal death benefit payable through the firefighters pension plan.
Police Union members voted 34-5 to reject a contract agreed to by the unions negotiating team and town officials on Aug. 18, according to a statement from the union. The five votes in favor were cast by the five members of the negotiating team.
The towns 41 police union members have been working under the terms of a contract that expired on June 30, 2010. The next step for the union and town officials is to go to arbitration, but Sgt. John Milligan, head of the union, said he would like to return to the negotiating table.
To contact reporter Melvin Mason, email mmason@thedailynewcanaan.com.
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