Thibeault v. Chief of Police

Gerard J. Thibeault, a patrolman of the police department of the city of Fitchburg, brought this action for declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent the implementation of an order (General Order No. 74-24) by the chief of police establishing a system of “rotating shifts.” At the time the action was brought Thibeault was also president of Local 342 of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers.2

*361The present dispute arose in May of 1974 while collective bargaining negotiations were in progress between Local 342 and the city of Fitchburg looking toward a successor agreement to a…