PURA authorizes settlement to resolve CWA Local 1298 declaratory-ruling appeal

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on Aug. 27 adopted a resolution authorizing the Office of the Attorney General and any designee of the chair to finalize a confidential settlement resolving an appeal by Communications Workers of America Local 1298 of a prior declaratory ruling. The action came during the authority’s regular meeting and applies to docket number 240511, a petition for a declaratory ruling on behalf of the union concerning general statute 16 42.

Authority General Counsel Scott Muska told the panel the resolution would grant the attorney general permission to settle a dispute between PURA and Communications Workers of America Local 1298 and that the settlement terms were attached to the resolution as a confidential exhibit because the agreement had not been finalized. "This resolution will grant the Office of the Attorney General as well as any other designee of the chair permission to, ultimately settle a, a dispute between PURA and the Communication Workers of America Local 12 98," Muska said.

The chair, Marissa Gillette, and fellow commissioners moved and seconded the resolution and conducted a roll-call vote. Commissioner Karen, Vice Chairman David Arconti and Chairman Marissa Gillette each voted yes and the resolution was adopted. The meeting record does not disclose the settlement terms, which the authority filed as a confidential exhibit and stated are not yet finalized.

The adoption represented only authorization for the attorney general’s office to execute and finalize the agreement; staff described the underlying settlement terms as confidential and did not place details on the public record during the meeting. The record does not indicate any additional direction to staff or further public disclosure requirements related to the settlement.