Local 2071, International Ass'n of Firefighters v. Town of Bellingham

We granted further appellate review to consider the judgment of the Superior Court requiring the town of Bellingham to implement a scheduling change for its fire fighters that had been proposed by their union and awarded by the joint labor-management committee (committee). The change involved a move to twenty-four hour shifts. The town maintained that such a shift change was a management prerogative and, therefore, beyond the jurisdiction of the committee.

The Appeals Court, by a three-to-two decision, affirmed the Superior Court judgment. Local 2071, Int’l Ass’n of Firefighters v. Bellingham,…