Podcasts – Labor Relations Information System

Rick Poulson covers a potpourri of cases from across the country, including two involving police take-home vehicles. Cases: New Mexico Labor Relations Board Finds Police Take-Home Vehicles Policy A Mandatory Subject Of Bargaining, Village of Hatch Police Officers Ass’n v. Village of Hatch, PELRB No. 128-25, 2026 WL 1031973 (N.M. Pub. Emp. Lab. Rels. Bd. […]

Rick Poulson interviews attorney Lance LoRusso, founder of the Blue Line Institute. They discuss Lance’s background as a sworn police officer and a police attorney, as well as the current challenges facing police officers and their advocates. This month’s cases: Court Reverses Decision Granting Retired Firefighters Retroactive Pension Adjustments, Stiegler v. City of Meriden, 348 […]

Welcome Rick Poulson to the LRIS First Thursday Podcast! April’s First Thursday podcast is a special two-person affair as LRIS Executive Director, Rick Poulson, joins Will as cohost. Rick talks about his background, how he became a labor attorney, and helps Will break down this months cases. Cases: Burden Of Proof Is On Employer To […]

State of California rewrites its Racial and Identity Profiling Act, Letter to Rob Bonta, Attorney General for California (2024) ‘Marsy’s Law’ Does Not Shield Crime Victims’ Names From Disclosure, City of Tallahassee v. Florida PBA, 2023 WL 8264181 (Fla. 2023). Female Firefighter Applicant Unsuccessfully Challenges Physical Test As Discriminatory, Erdman v. City of Madison, No. […]

Good news on the economy and inflation This month’s cases

The recurring attack on binding disciplinary arbitration. Will Aitchison covers a study from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy entitled “How To Improve Policing Through Collective Bargaining Reforms.” He covers its fatal flaw, and why law enforcement unions must be aware of it. Cases: Statements Made To Criminal Investigator Not Protected Under Garrity, Foltz v. City […]

This month’s cases: Cell Phone Warrant Of Officer’s Phone Too Broad, Commonwealth v. Sukhadia, 2023 WL 7409309 (Penn. Super. 2023). Township Violates Free Speech Rights By Banning Thin Blue Line Flag, Pennsylvania State Lodge v. Township of Springfield, 2023 WL 7547494 (E.D. Penn. 2023). Firefighter’s Union Loses Challenge to Arbitrator’s Opinion, Tamburo v. City of […]

Current Events The latest development in A.I. and policing: The City of San Jose signs on to use Benchmark Analytics’ First Sign Early Intervention System. How are cities dealing with the recruitment and retention crisis? Cases

This month’s cases: Officers Entitled To Privacy About Participation In January 6 Rally, Jane Doe 1 v. Seattle Police Department, 2023 WL 4182193 (Wash. App. 2023). Download this case. Department’s Garrity Failure Results In Reinstatement, Foltz v. City of St. Louis, 2023 WL 5688659 (Mo. App. 2023). When Are Text Messages A Matter Of Public […]

The persistence of the recruitment and retention crisis in public safety. Related stories: The Cases:

This month’s cases: Florida Court Upholds Termination Of CO For Medical Marijuana Use, Ortiz v. Department of Corrections, 2023 WL 4101330 (Fla. App. 2023). No Weingarten Rights When Merely Receiving Counseling Memo, Madison County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, 56 PERB ¶ 4541 (NY PERB ALJ 2023). No Privacy Right To Masturbate While On Duty, Demill v. […]

Important cases from the Supreme Court. Groff v. Dejoy Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows of Harvard College Muldrow v. City of St. Louis Latest news: NYPD signs new uniformed officers contracts. New EEOC Guidance on When the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Selection Procedures May Be Discriminatory Arbitrator Orders In-Person Rather […]

This month’s cases: Union, Not Member, Has Right To Invoke Arbitration, Pendleton Police Department, 2023 WL 2858867 (OR ERB 2023). Paid Union Leave Legal In Texas, Borgelt v. Austin Firefighters Association, 2022 WL 17096786 (Tex. App. 2022). Political Patronage Case Subject To Arbitration, Orange County Sheriff’s Office Employees Association v. Orange County, Texas, 2023 WL […]

The movie and novel Minority Report introduced the idea of “precrime.” Could AI make this a reality? Benchmark Analytics claims it can predict adverse officer actions before they happen. This month’s cases: Boston Allowed To Implement Vaccination Policy, Boston Firefighters Union, Local 718 v. City of Boston, 2023 WL 2698781 (Mass. 2023). Court Turns Away […]

The first meaningful applications of artificial intelligence in the public safety labor world are happening. What does this bode for the near future? Cases: Arbitrator’s Decision Reinstating Text-Messaging Officer Not Against Public Policy, City of Springfield v. PPBA, Unit 5, 2023 IL App (4th) 220321-U (Ill. App. 2023). No Privacy Protections Against Disclosure Of Officers’ […]

Portland survived Winter Apocalypse 2023! This month’s cases: Firefighter Entitled To Unemployment Benefits After Firing For Use Of Medical Marijuana, City of Waterbury, 216 Conn.App. 717 (2022). No Privacy Interest In On-Line Videos, Mason v. City of Waco, 2023 WL 1926984 (W.D. Tex. 2023).Behind The Blue Curtain Podcast Officer’s Facebook Lawsuit Survives Motion To Dismiss, […]

In this month’s podcast: Article: Evidence On Measures To Reduce Excessive Use Of Force By The Police (h/t to PORAC). Firefighter Schedule Change Illegal Discrimination, IAFF, Local 365 v. City of East Chicago, 2022 WL 17829283 (7th Cir. 2022). Sergeant Has Privacy Interest In Dropbox Account Created With Employer’s Email, State v. Bowers, 2022 WL […]

It’s a new year and the times, they are a-changin’ here at LRIS. In this month’s podcast:

This month’s cases: Not Unconstitutional To Bar Recording IA Interviews, Hils v. Davis, 2022 WL 16731082 (6th Cir. 2022). Firefighter Loses Free Speech Lawsuit Over Voicemail, Millspaugh v. Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services, 2022 WL 17101337 (11th Cir. 2022). Unsubstantiated Rumors Do Not Start Bill Of Rights Statute Of Limitations, Shouse v. County of […]

Cases: The City of Oklahoma City and Devin Frazier decision, City of Oklahoma City, FMCS Case No. 210710-08292 (Rubinett 2022). Ex Parte Advice From Decisionmaker’s Wife Violates Due Process, Johnson v. Department of the Air Force, 2022 WL 4456279 (Fed. Cir. 2022). Court Allows Employer To Seize Corrections Officer’s Guns, Anderson v. Molina, 2022 WL […]

What’s going on with the Consumer Price Index? Cases: Waiver Of Bargaining Rights Need Not Be In Writing, Portland Fire Fighters’ Association, 321 Or. App. 569 (2022). Vice-President’s Knowledge Can Waive Union’s Right To Bargain, Syracuse Firefighters Association, 55 PERB ¶ 4551 (NY PERB ALJ 2022). Corrections Officers Lack Standing To Challenge Sick Leave Confinement […]

Policing and police staffing in Portland, Oregon. Article: The Injustice Of Under-Policing In America First Federal Appeals Court Plain View Project Case, Hernandez v. City of Phoenix, 2022 WL 3132422 (9th Cir. 2022). Phoenix And Plain View Project In State Court, McMichael-Gombar v. Phoenix Civil Service Board, 73 Arizona Cases Digest 4 (Az. App. 2022). […]

In this month’s podcast: Religious speech implications of the Supreme Court’s Kennedy decision. Confederate Flag Costs Sergeant Her Job, Cotriss v. City of Roswell, 2022 WL 2345729 (11th Cir. 2022). Garrity Offers No Protection For Dishonesty, Delaware v. MacColl, 2022 WL 2388397 (Del. Super. 2022). No Due Process Right To Promotion From Expired List, Cummings […]

How does the Supreme Court decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District affect public safety employees and employers?Mentioned in this discussion: Garcetti v. Ceballos Other cases discussed: New Disciplinary Matrix And Procedures Are Negotiable, City of Newark, 2022 WL 2168226 (N.J. PERC 2022). No DFR Breach When Fire Union Balances Competing Priorities Of Members, Gault […]

This month’s cases: Porta-Potty Retaliation, City of Shelton, 2022 WL 1442880 (CT.Dept.Lab. 2022). [Download the decision.] What Happens When The Employer Fails To Respond To A Grievance? Sun Coast PBA v. City of St. Petersburg, 2022 WL 1521990 (Fla. PERC Gen. Coun. 2022). No Weingarten Representation When Employer Assures Employee Discipline Not Possible, Canovas v. […]

In this month’s podcast: New Jersey Attorney General’s cannabis compliance memo Cases covered Buffalo Protest Officers Absolved In Arbitration, City of Buffalo, (Selchick 2022) Federal Court Halts Firefighter Shift Change On Free Speech Grounds, IAFF, Local 365 v. City of East Chicago, No. 2:21-CV-154-PPS-APR (N.D. Ind. 2022) Qualified Immunity Shields Employer From Liability For Illegal […]

In this month’s podcast: Meet John Chrystal. John is the president of the Newark, New Jersey Police Superior Officers’ Association and has attended LRIS seminars for many years. He’s taken the knowledge gleaned from those seminars had translated it into wins for his union. Two recent cases illustrate this. City Guilty Of ‘Direct Dealing’ In […]

This month’s cases: Major Cell Phone Decision From Phoenix, Turiano v. City of Phoenix, No. CV-21-01428-PHX-MTL (D. Ariz. Feb. 4, 2022). Arbitrator Upholds Chicago Police Vaccine Mandate, City of Chicago, (George Roumell, Jr. Feb. 23, 2022). ‘Gap Time’ And The FLSA, Conner v. Cleveland County, 2022 WL 53977 (4th Cir. 2022). No Employment Right To […]

A brief update on vaccine mandates. Cases: Arbitrator Upholds Lieutenant’s Termination For January 6 Charges, Bexar County, Texas (Thomas Cipolla, 2021). (Download the arbitrator’s decision.) LAPD Officers Lose Job To Pokemon Go, Lozano v. City of Los Angeles, 2022 WL 71705 (Cal. App. 2022). Union Can Demand Mid-Term Bargaining On Topic Not Covered By Contract, […]

Happy new year! This month’s podcast covers: Mandatory vaccinations programs (again). Courts and arbitrators continue to rule (69-0 by our last count) that there is nothing unconstitutional about employer vaccine mandates. First interest arbitration decision about mandatory vaccine programs. The law about whether or not an employee or labor organization can get injunctive relief while […]

This month’s podcast covers the most recent updates on vaccine mandates as well as the following cases: Due Process And The Brady Rule, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5 v. City of Philadelphia, 2021 WL 5182646 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2021) (see also Duchesne v. Hillsborough County Attorney, 2015 WL 3897798 (N.H. 2015)). Union Entitled To […]

Are you tired of hearing about vaccination mandates yet? We hope not, because this podcast is all about the legality of mandatory vaccination policies (spoiler alert: they are legal). Will tackles some of the most common questions he’s received or seen regarding employer vaccination mandates. They are listed below with a timestamp so you can […]

Will interviews Angie Salvato and Dr. Vidisha Barua Worley, Esquire on the current state of recruiting and retaining quality law enforcement officers. The interview covers: About our guests: Angie Salvato Angelina Salvato is a Police Officer with the Anchorage Police Department in Alaska and [...]

Tracking vaccine mandate litigation (Table) Police union website archive at Cornell Universityhttps://news.cornell.edu/stories/2021/09/police-union-websites-preserved-library-archive Cases: Apportioning Damages In DFR Cases, POAM v. Hatfield, 2021 WL 3907865 (Mich. App. 2021). No Duty Of Fair Representation Where Union Not Exclusive Rep, Brinson v. Florida PBA, 48 FPER ¶ 19 (Fla. PERC Gen. Counsel 2021). Who Chooses The Reasonable Accommodation […]

More on mandatory vaccination programs Jacobson v. Massachusetts Bridges v. Houston Methodist Klaasen v. Trustees of Indiana University (7th Circuit opinion) From the EEOC: What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws Horvath v. City of Leander, 2020 WL 104345 (5th Cir. 2020). Do unions’ have the […]

Will starts off this month’s podcast with things employers and unions need to know about mandatory Covid vaccine programs. The EEOC’s FAQ page. Employer Covid Vaccination And Testing Program Guidelines Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11 (1905) Bridges v. Houston Methodist Hospital, Case No. 21-CV-01774 (S.D. Tex. 2021) This Month’s Cases Firefighters Lose ADA Lawsuit […]

The Last News Recruitment and retention crisis Mandatory COVID vaccination (San Francisco) Oregon Senate Bill 204 on police reform Cases: Federal Court Allows Mandatory Vaccinations, Bridges v. Houston Methodist Hospital, Civil Action 21-1774 (S.D. Tex. 2021). Shifts, Seniority, And Religious Accommodations, In re Bloomfield, 2021 WL 2182984 (N.J. App. 2021). See Balint v. Cason City, […]

Cases covered this month: Chicago Commits Bodycam-Related Unfair Labor Practices, Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #7 and City of Chicago, Case No. L-CA-20-024 (Ill. LRB ALJ 2021). Civil Service Referee Upholds Firefighter’s CBD-Based Termination, City of Cleveland (Colon), December 23, 2020. Link to CBD notice from Department of Transportation: https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/cbd-notice Fire Department’s Tattoo Policy Upheld, […]

In this month’s podcast, Will cover public safety legislation from around the country. Maryland: Eliminates the police officers’ bill of rights, use of force reform, county police accountability boards. San Antonio: Establishes collective bargaining for police officers. Austin: Voters approve binding arbitration for firefighters replacing the meet-and-confer system. Cases: Court Changes ‘Public Policy’ Doctrine To […]

Facts vs Perception On Race In Policing USA Today Article CUPES Study The Cases: Lawsuit Filed Challenging Mandatory Vaccination Of Corrections Employees, Legaretta v. Macias, 2021 WL 833390 (D.N.M. 2021). City Can Be Liable For ADA Violations Of Third-Party Evaluators, Gibbs v. City of Pittsburgh, 2021 WL 800255 (3rd Cir. 2021). Mandatory Retirement Not ‘Involuntary,’ […]

Upcoming LRIS webinars, premium podcasts and seminars. The cases: Firefighters, Families Lose Lawsuit Over Fatal House Fire, Speakman v. Williams, 2021 WL 49947 (3rd Cir. 2021). Challenges In Illinois To The ‘Public Policy’ Doctrine, City of Chicago v. Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local No. 2, Case No. 2019 CH 12662 (Cir. Ct. 2020); City of […]

Will talks about the January 6 riot at the Capitol and the following cases: Public Policy And At-Will Employment, Potts v. City of Devils Lake, 2021 WL 99712 (N.D. 2021) Officer Loses Cell Phone Claim To Qualified Immunity, Lazar v. Knight, 2020 WL 7396255 (6th Cir. 2020). No Need To Track Down Attorney For Garrity […]

In today’s podcast, Will gives his reaction to events local (the third act of vandalism on his office) and national (the violent insurrection last week at the Capitol). What do events like these mean for us as a society in general and for police unions in particular? This is a no-holds-barred episode, and we’d love […]

What race-specific effects does the size of a police force have? Will Aitchison talks about a recent study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research that addresses this question. Cases covered this month: Whether Bargaining Should Be In Public Is Not Mandatory For Bargaining, Lincoln County v. Public Employment Relations Commission, 475 P.3d 252 […]

It’s the last First Thursday podcast of 2020. Will gives a COVID-19 update and covers the following cases: Bargaining Obligation Prevails Over Wage Recoupment Statute, Teamsters Local 839 v. Benton County, 2020 WL 6602939 (Wash. App. 2020). Qualified Immunity Bars Dispatcher’s Second Amendment Claim, Calderone v. City of Chicago, 2020 WL 6500933 (7th Cir. 2020). […]

Will discusses ballot measures from across the country on police issues. Cases covered: Prosecutor Allowed To Disclose Brady Information To Chief, In re Grand Jury Investigation, 485 Mass. 641 (Mass. 2020). Prosecutor Shielded From Officers’ Suit By Qualified Immunity, Stockdale v. Helper, 2020 WL 6372910 (6th Cir. 2020). Reporting Corruption Not Protected By First Amendment, […]

Announcements: The new edition of our book The Rights of Law Enforcement Officers is now available. 2021 Seminar Schedule LRIS Webinars Cases: When Does An Employer Have To Disclose Disciplinary Files? Milwaukee Police Supervisors’ Organization v. City of Milwaukee, 2020 WL 5747114 (WI.Emp.Rel.Com. 2020). ‘Mere Technical’ Violations Of Bill Of Rights Not Basis To Reverse […]

An update on LRIS seminars during COVD-19 The police reform movement Cases: City Stuck With Police Director’s Grievance Resolution, City of Newark, 47 NJPER ¶ 15 (NJ PERC ALJ 2020). Reinstatement Of Corporal Who Used Unnecessary Force Does Not Violate Public Policy, Cuyahoga County v. UAW, Local 70, 2020 WL 4804962 (Ohio App. 2020). Officer’s […]

Jeremy Conking of the Anchorage Police Department Employees Association and Keith Olson of the Yonkers Police Benevolent Association speak with Will Aitchison about challenges facing police unions today and how they are dealing with them.

Protests in Portland, Oregon Social media screening services From our Q&A: Is there existing case law regarding an employee’s refusal to wear a protective mask on religious grounds? Cases: Public Records Law Prevails Over Purging Clause In Contract, City of Chicago v. Fraternal Order of Police, 2020 IL 124831 (7th Cir. 2020) Contracts And Memoranda […]