Council 4 Challenges Judicial Branch For Eliminating Supreme Court Police Unit

New Britain, CT, Sept. 24, 2018 -- Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has filed two formal labor complaints against the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch over the elimination of the Supreme Court Police Department.

Council 4 filed the complaints with the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations on behalf of affiliated Local 749, which represents 1,500 employees throughout the Judicial Branch.

In the complaints, Council 4 alleges the Branch violated state labor law by contracting out the work of the four-person Supreme Court Police Department and by specifically targeting Local 749 President Charles DellaRocco through the elimination of his position. (Three of the four positions are covered under the collective bargaining agreement with Local 749.)

“We believe the Judicial Branch has overstepped its boundaries by engaging in unlawful behavior,” Council 4 Executive Director Jody Barr said. “The Branch has sent a disturbing message to all its employees, and the public they serve, by ignoring its legal obligations and targeting our local union president in an attempt to weaken the union.”

The Judicial Branch is trying force DellaRocco to take a position outside of the Local 749 bargaining unit.

“I definitely feel that I am being targeted,” DellaRocco said. “I have been a proud and vocal advocate for the rights and freedoms of our members. They are the backbone and quiet heroes of the state judicial system. As a union, we will continue moving forward and do our best to find a resolution to this situation.”

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