As we reported last week, the Department of Personnel Administration has sued Professional Engineers in California Government to keep the union from seeking contract arbitration. Click here to read that Friday post if you need to get up to speed.
We got PECG's side of the story into that post, namely that the administration is trying to keep the union from its right to seek arbitration to settle a contract disagreement.
We spoke with DPA's Lynelle Jolley this morning. She said that the lawsuit was a "standard legal response." In this instance, she said, the furlough lawsuit the PECG has before the 3rd District Court of Appeals is arguing the same issue that PECG is seeking to solve through arbitration.
"In this case, (the union) appealed it," Jolley said.
PECG boss Bruce Blanning said last week that the court case and hoped-for arbitration are about two different issues. The lawsuit concerns the legality of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's furlough order. The union wants arbitration to decide whether furloughs violate PECG's contract.
"That's drawing a distinction without a difference," Jolley said.
IMAGE: yolocourts.ca.gov
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