IFPTE Local 777

IFPTE Local 777 is thrilled to announce that it won an arbitration this week. It was a case arguing that one of the local’s retired members, brother Ben Pinkston, who was a lock and dam operator in Chicago, should have been paid his holiday and Sunday pay during his DRP period. Further, the union argued that management failed to notify or bargain over the changes in working conditions of these employees.

The arbitrator wrote,

“By failing to take into the account the amount of money Grievant would actually earn on his scheduled Sundays, Grievant’s promised compensation was reduced, resulting in a reduction of his “pay,” — i.e. compensation he was promised if he took that fork [in the road offer]. This action violated both the spirit and the express language of the DRP agreement.”

The arbitrator’s award included full back pay, with interest, plus a notice posted in all work sites stating that management would cease further violations.

On that point, the arbitrator concluded,

“Management’s error, while based on faulty guidance and quickly corrected nonetheless was initially taken without offering the Union notice and an opportunity to bargain as required by the Federal [Service] Labor [-Management] Relations Statute.”

Local President Colin Smalley said,

“We’re really proud of this award that will see this worker made whole. For as chaotic as the ‘fork in the road’ was intended to be, our union has the strength and determination to hold the government to its promises.”

Read the arbitrator’s decision and award here.