Town of North Stonington Employee Termination Upheld in Arbitration

2/17/2011

On February 4, 2011, Arbitrator M. Jackson Webber from the American Arbitration Association issued a decision upholding the termination from employment of a union employee previously working for the Town of North Stonington at its Transfer Station.

In this case, the Town, represented by Attorney Eileen Duggan, convinced Arbitrator Webber that it had just cause to dismiss a long term employee following a March-April 2010 investigation at the Transfer Station. The investigation revealed, in part, that the employee had engaged in numerous violations of Town rules and regulations, including the Town’s Violence in the Workplace Policy and protocols related to the operation of the Transfer Station. While the employee had a relatively limited past disciplinary history, the significance of the most recent misconduct resulted in the upholding of the termination.

“Termination cases are never easy to sustain”, stated Attorney Duggan, “particularly in the fact of limited prior discipline. The combination of significant infractions, the Town’s investment of time and energy into the initial investigation, and its willingness to see the process through to its conclusion paid off.”

If you are interested in reviewing Arbitrator Webber’s decision, please contact Attorney Eileen Duggan.