Middleborough Gas & Electric Department v. Town of Middleborough

There are three parties to this dispute: the town of Middleborough, the Middleborough Gas and Electric Department (department), and AFSCME Council 93 (union). The issue concerns an article of the collective bargaining agreement between the department and the union. The town claims that the article violates certain provisions of G. L. c. 32B, the statute governing municipal health care plans. The town therefore refused to process payments under the article, which provides for reimbursement for eye examinations and eyeglasses. An *428arbitrator ordered the department to abide by the agreement. A…