NEWS > 22 April 2008

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Dan Bustard Staff Reporter Eag
22 April 2008

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Police union makes public plea

SPRINGFIELD - In the latest twist in the ongoing dispute between Springfield Police Chief Doug Johnston and members of his department, the police union has mailed out a letter asking residents to lobby town officials for

The two-page letter from United Electrical Workers Local 218 started arriving in mail boxes on Thursday and Friday at a time when the union and the town are waiting to see if the Vermont Labor Relations Board acts on an unfair labor practice charge brought by the union in February claiming a hostile work environment caused by Johnston.

The town has denied the charge and asked the labor relations board to let the grievance process work its way through rather than requiring a hearing on the complaint.

The charge was filed shortly before the union called for Johnston's firing in a vote of no confidence against the chief and the town for not acting on the issues raised by the union.

"The police Union 218 is writing this letter requesting your help by contacting the town select board and voicing your concerns and make them accountable for (the) lack of action taken against the chief," the letter reads. "The Springfield Police Department continues to lose well-trained officers for new recruits, which requires approximately seven months of training. The department also incurs many hours of overtime (taxpayer monies) to cover open shifts by the officers that have left. Stability is greatly needed for your town's police department."

Johnston had not seen the letter as of Friday and had no comment. Town Manager Bob Forguites had seen the letter but also declined to comment, as did Springfield Select Board Chairman Mark Blanchard.

The union released the letter to the media Friday night.

The letter, which was not sent to every Springfield resident, recaps issues the union has raised, including its first vote of no confidence against Johnston in 2003 for "violations of police ethics and department rules and regulations." The union also claims the "ongoing hostility/treatment" from the chief is the reason why about 12 officers have left in the past 6 1/2 years.

"Some examples of the problem areas are related to verbal abuse, unfair treatment, difficulties obtaining needed police equipment, arguments concerning training (reimbursements) and lack of management in relation to drug problems," the letter reads.

The unfair labor practice charge was field by the union because it felt the town "has failed to act on the resolution they presented to settle a grievance" to the hostile work environment situation members ay exists.

In the town's response, Forguites denied the charge and "further denies than an unfair labor practice complaint is an appropriate recourse when the collective bargaining agreement explicitly provides for binding arbitration of the issues complained about."

He asked the Vermont Labor Relations Board to "defer to the contracted grievance procedure in lieu of issuing an unfair labor practice complaint."

The town's response also stated, "You should also understand that the allegation of 'hostile work environment' does not involve allegations of discrimination or mistreatment of individuals based upon sex, race, religion or national origin."

The letter points out UE Local 218 has represented many machine tool workers at Jones & Lamson, Bryant Grinder, Fellows Gear Shaper and Parks & Woolson in the past.

It also touches on a request made on Feb. 25 to conduct a morale study similar to one performed in Brattleboro by an independent counselor or psychologist.

"This study was to try and bring resolve within the department," the union wrote. "The Springfield town administration's response was that they were not going to conduct this study but do something on their own and could not inform the union as to what was going to be done."

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Article sourced from

Dan Bustard Staff Reporter Eag22 April 2008

Police union makes public plea

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Dan Bustard Staff Reporter Eag
22 April 2008