Labor board sides with 3 Saybrook officers

Saturday, October 1, 2005 3:00 AM EDT
By Peggy Schenk

OLD SAYBROOK — The state Board of Labor Relations has sided with three former police officers who claimed they were laid off two years ago because of their union organizing activities.

In a decision issued Friday, the board ordered the town to stop discriminating against employees who seek to join a labor union.

The board also ordered the town to offer to reinstate Cynthia Huckel, Larry Smith and Robert Scavello with full back pay.

"After a two-year battle, justice has finally be served," said Huckel, who also has a federal lawsuit pending against the town charging civil rights violations stemming from a pattern of sexual harassment.

The complaint, filed by the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, stated that Huckel, Scavello and Smith engaged in union activities with the knowledge of their superiors, who disapproved.

First Selectman Michael Pace denied the town was involved in union busting and that the reduction in the police force at that time "was purely fiscal. We had just lost (R.R.) Donnelley & Sons, a major commercial business that relocated out of town), and state aid," he said after receiving the decision.

In addition, Pace said the officers were offered other union jobs (as communications technicians) with the full understanding that they would be reinstated when the police positions opened up again. We tried to keep them whole," he said.

Pace said the town has not made a decision on how to proceed, "but we do have options. We can request the labor board for a reconsideration of its findings or we could file a court appeal."

Huckel and Scavello were patrol officers from 1999 to July 2003, when they were laid off.

Smith joined the force in 2001.

Huckel was considered for a position with the Clinton Police Department, but withdrew her application.

Scavello is a patrol officer with the Groton police, and Smith is a patrol officer with the Southington police.

"We’re very pleased with the decision," said Ronald Suraci of the Connecticut Organization for Public Safety, which now represents the department. "I hope now the issue is resolved, we can now get to work negotiating a contract," he said.

Susan Wallace, the lawyer handling Huckel’s federal lawsuit, said the labor board’s decision would advance the resolution of the case.

Wallace said the Labor Board’s decision "has some strong findings. It’s very hard to prove that kind of discrimination. The higher courts are not going to second guess the Labor Relations Board."

Peggy Schenk can be reached at pschenk@nhregister.com or (860) 664-4118.