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WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The city settled part of a labor issue recognizing the jobs included in a collective bargaining agreement, but appealed a ruling that allowed paramedics to remain in the union representing mainly clerical workers.The settlement dealing with which workers remained in Local 1310 of the Laborers&#8217; International Union of North America preceded the Jan. 19 order by a hearing examiner with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board on the paramedics.Hearing Examiner Stephen A. Helmerich concluded the paramedics have more common interests than differences with other members in Local 1310 and should not be excluded as the city argued.City Administrator Ted Wampole said the city disagreed. &#8220;We filed the appeal,&#8221; Wampole said.The order stated the paramedics share an &#8220;identifiable community of interest&#8221; in that they are city employees whose hiring and firing fall under the authority of the mayor. It added they also have been members of the union since at least 1981; work with another bargaining unit representing employees of the Wilkes-Barre City Fire Department; deliver medical services; have pay schedules and benefits similar to the other members of Local 1310; and perform clerical duties.The city highlighted what it said were distinctions between the paramedics and the others, including the type of work performed, differing lines of supervision, shifts, hours, fringe benefits and working conditions.&#8220;However, an identifiable community of interest does not require perfect uniformity in conditions of employment and can exist despite differences in wage, hours, working conditions, or other factors,&#8221; the order stated.The city filed the petition with the board in December 2016, challenging the inclusion of 17 positions in the union: &#8226; Animal control officer&#8226; Building code official/code enforcement officer&#8226; Chief building inspector/DPW director&#8226; City revitalization coordinator&#8226; Deputy director of DPW&#8226; Deputy finance officer&#8226; Director of economic and community development&#8226; Finance officer&#8226; Master electrician&#8226; Human resource assistant&#8226; Information technology director&#8226; Fiscal officer for revenue/payroll/pension&#8226; Associate director for preventive health services&#8226; Administrative assistant to the city administrator&#8226; Executive assistant to the mayorBut in the settlement dated Sept. 12, 2017, the city and union agreed to remove the positions of fiscal officer for revenue/payroll/pension and information technology director. The position of deputy director of human resources would be created and would not be part of the bargaining unit. Instead it would be classified as a management-level post.In addition, both sides agreed to classify as &#8220;mayoral-appointed positions&#8221; six jobs:&#8226; Executive assistant to the mayor&#8226; Administrative assistant to the city administrator&#8226; Finance officer&#8226; Chief building inspector/DPW director&#8226; Director of economic and community development&#8226; Director of planning and zoning.In the event of vacancies, the city is not required to fill them with a member of Local 1310. The people filling the appointed posts are prohibited from going on strike and filing grievances and must sign confidentiality agreements that they will not improperly disclose information about the collective bargaining agreement.<style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Jerry Lynottjlynott@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre still challenging paramedics’ union representation