Helgevold v. Civil Service Commission

OXBERGER, Chief Judge.

This appeal presents issues of first impression affecting public employees and the unions that represent them. The specific issue we address on appeal is whether reducing certain fringe benefits constitutes a demotion which can occur only as specified in our Code. The changes were made within the same class of employees who perform similar duties and receive the same pay. After weighing the varying theories and viewpoints in this area, we hold that, in this instance, where fringe benefits were lowered for some employees and raised for others within the same class, for…