IAFF Local 2098, Canandaigua Firefighters, have filed a complaint with the New York State Public Employees Relation Board accusing the city of Canandaigua with committing an improper labor practice by eliminating eight career firefighter positions. The complaint alleged that the city, without bargaining to impasse, unilaterally eliminated the eight positions and replaced the unionized firefighters with volunteers.
A basic premise of labor laws is that an employer cannot unliaterally impose a change to wages, hours, or other terms and conditions of employment without first bargaining to impasse.
The New York State Public Employees Relation Board, the state agency in New York that oversees public sector collective bargaining, handles allegations of improper labor practices. Local 2098 seeks reinstatement of the eight firefighters and backpay.
