Communications Workers of America v. City of Gainesville

Four labor unions representing employees of the City of Gainesville appeal a final order of the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) that rejected Hearing Officer Choppin’s ruling that the City had engaged in unfair labor practices, in violation of sections 447.501(l)(a) and (c), Florida Statutes (2008), by refusing to bargain over changes it made to health insurance benefits for city employees, once they retire. The parties’ collective bargaining agreements did not address the issue, so it was incumbent on the appellants to show that the City’s furnishing retirees’ health benefits…