Social Media and the Workplace--NLRB and APD Cases Compared

What a curious world it is.  There is a notion of the "timeliness" or "confluence of ideas," and I'm sure you've all experienced it:  you have an idea rattling around in your head and, what do you know, you keep encountering things/people/incidents that reinforce, clarify and refine that idea.  We also see it historically.  For example, multiple people tend to come forward with similar technical innovations at about the same time.  Well, it is quickly becoming apparent that the idea or innovation de jure is Facebook and other social media, and their implications for the workplace, both nationally and at the Albuquerque Police Department.

Public Sector Set Backs--or Claw Backs?

Earlier this month, I reported on 2d Judicial District Judge Huling's ruling that the City of Albuquerque could scale back wages for the AFSCME bargaining unit, while negotiations for a successor contract was pending.  

Well, the beat goes on.  On February 2, the Albuquerque Journal reported that Second Judicial District Court Judge Nan Nash has ruled that the City was not required to implement negotiated annual pay increases for City firefighters, based on financial difficulties.  See Dan McKay, "Judge Dismisses Firefighters' Lawsuit."  

NM PELRB Director Terminated

The New Mexico Public Employee Labor Relations Board (PELRB) Director--Pam Gentry, who was just hired in the Fall of 2010 but has not appeared to have reduced the case backlog --was terminated effective February 5, 2011 according to agency correspondence to parties rescheduling a Status Conference. 

Bateman Act’s Preemption over PEBA in Tough Economic Times

In November, Judge Valerie Huling with the Second Judicial District in New Mexico ruled that “the city of Albuquerque can reduce the wages of its AFSCME union workers if there isn't enough money appropriated to pay them,” under the Bateman Act.  See Dan McKay, “Court: City Can Cut Union Pay,” Albuquerque Journal (Nov. 12, 2010).