New Jersey Township Must Deliver Fire Fighter Uniforms

March 12, 2009 – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, Superior Court judge has ordered Edison Township to supply missing protective station uniforms immediately to Edison Township Local 1197 fire fighters. The Township was also found in contempt of court for failing to uphold an arbitrator’s decision that the town is required to fire fighters with the uniforms.

“We thought the ruling was very fair,” says Robert Yackel, president of Local 1197. “We should not have to go to court to receive uniforms required by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and mandated by our contract.”

Issues over the uniforms date back to 2006 and 2007. Local 1197 issued a grievance in April 2007 against Edison Township. Only then did the fire chief agree to provide them.

A municipal purchase order was finally issued in September 2007; however, only small number of the uniforms were delivered. As many as 90 fire fighters were still without some components of their uniforms.

Consequently, the union moved forward with the original grievance, which was heard before an arbitrator in May 2008. The arbitrator ruled that the township must provide the missing uniform components and issue 2008 uniforms on or before December 31, 2008.

When the Township refused to comply, the case went to the Middlesex County Superior Court in February 2009. The judge found Edison Township in contempt of court for not complying with the arbitrator’s ruling, ordered the Township to supply the missing uniforms and said the Township must pay Local 1197’s legal fees.