Gardner Council to seek state labor opinion after Teamsters object to council role in department-head talks

The Gardner City Council voted March 16 to ask the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations whether the council may be excluded from negotiations involving a newly formed department head bargaining unit that includes the city treasurer.

Council President Tayros outlined the council’s concern after the council received a letter from Teamsters Local 170 objecting to the council having a representative at the bargaining table. Tayros said the treasurer is one of three elected positions that the council oversees under the city charter and warned that excluding the council could create a “significant jurisdictional gap.” “Who is representing the city's interest as the employer of the treasurer at the bargaining table?” Tayros asked during the discussion.

The council moved and seconded a measure authorizing the council president to contact the Department of Labor Relations for a formal opinion on the council’s role in negotiating contracts for council-appointed positions. The motion passed unanimously.

Tayros framed the request as an effort to ensure the council proceeds “in good faith and in full compliance of both city charter and state law.” The transcript cites Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 150E, in the participants’ discussion of bargaining authority.

The matter will return to the council if the department issues guidance that requires further action or policy changes; the council did not take additional votes on bargaining policy at the meeting.