Board Orders Dispatcher Reinstated After Firing

A Connecticut mediation board has ruled that the city of Newtown failed to follow proper procedures when it terminated a public safety dispatcher in Oct. 2008, and the town must now reinstate the dispatcher to his former position. Jason Chickos was hired in Oct. 2002, and at some point was disciplined and put on a “last chance” agreement, as agreed in his union’s contract. Then in mid-2008 he was accused of not reporting for duty, and a disciplinary hearing was scheduled. However, while Chickos showed up for the hearing, his union’s president did not. The city brought in another union member or represent Chickos during the hearing and then later fired Chickos. Upon appeal to the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration, the board found that substitution of the union president was improper, and ordered Chickos back to his job–but not with back pay or benefits. The board also ruled he should once again be placed on the previous last-chance plan. Interestingly, during the state board hearing, members heard testimony that Chickos actually did not skip work as originally accused. Instead, he had properly swapped a shift with a co-worker, and later paid back the swap.