City of Lynn v. Lynn Police Ass'n

Appealing from a Superior Court judge’s decision confirming an arbitrator’s award requiring the city of Lynn (city) to pay members of the Lynn Police Association (union) certain back wages, the city asserts that the arbitrator exceeded his authority and committed an error of law. We disagree and affirm.

The dispute between the city and the union is rooted in a statute enacted in 1985 when the city was on the verge of bankruptcy and unable to meet financial obligations, including wage obligations under its collective bargaining agreements. To prevent bankruptcy, the city sought financial relief…