Delaware County v. Delaware County Prison Employees Independent Union

OPINION ANNOUNCING JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

FLAHERTY, Chief Justice.

This is an appeal by allowance from an order of the Commonwealth Court which reversed an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County and reinstated an arbitrator’s award prohibiting Delaware County from “privatizing,” i.e., fully subcontracting, the operation of a prison facility. The factual background of the case is as follows.

In July of 1995, the Delaware County Prison Employees Independent Union was notified by Delaware County Council that, effective September 30, 1995, all of the correctional officers employed at…