Union and Labor Board defend previous rulings upholding collective bargaining rights of Department of Public Safety commissioned officers in Rell Administration's appeal to state high court

HARTFORD—The four-year long case involving the unanimous election by State Police lieutenants and captains to unite for a voice on the job has had its day in the Connecticut State Supreme Court. Yesterday, six justices heard oral arguments presented by legal counsel for the officers' Union and the State Board of Labor Relations, as well as lawyers for the private law firm the Administration of Governor M. Jodi Rell hired for their appeal.

"We stressed to the high court that the Administration's claims in this case should be rejected," said Robert Krzys, CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 Legal Counsel. "We argued that there will be no 'conflict of interest' or the creation of an 'unworkable situation' in the Department of Public Safety if its commissioned officers are represented by a union, as our State Board of Labor Relations and the trial court have already ruled."

Governor Rell's Administration has refused to recognize the free choice of State Police lieutenants and captains to join a union despite rulings by the Labor Board that certified their July 2006 election and upheld their collective bargaining rights. Thursday's hearing followed a 2008 decision by a Connecticut Superior Court Judge upholding the Labor Board's rulings, which the Administration appealed.

"I work hard every day to protect the families and people of this state," said Thomas Garbedian, a State Police captain who attended the hearing. "Every officer who puts themselves in harm's way to protect the public should have the right to a voice on the job," Captain Garbedian, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Connecticut State Police Commissioned Officers Association in CSEA/SEIU Local 2001, added.

The Administration's court battle has also wasted taxpayer dollars. In 2007, State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal refused to represent the State in its appeal of the Labor Board rulings, saying that "opposition to the unionization of police lieutenants and captains is wrong as a matter of policy." While the state budget has faced a growing deficit, precious resources have been spent on high-priced lawyers rather than preserving vital public services.

The Supreme Court's decision in the case is expected before the end of the current legislative session in May.

CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 represents 25,000 active and retired public sector workers across Connecticut, and is an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation's second largest public employees union. Visit www.seiu2001.org online for more information about its members' advocacy in gaining dignity and respect for public service workers in state, municipal, and education agencies across Connecticut.