Livingston County Deputy Sheriff's
"Your Health Care is Under Attack"
POAM - MIA?

In early December of 2005, the Michigan Association of Police (MAP), representing the Livingston County Lieutenants, Livingston County Sergeants, and 911 Emergency Dispatchers, previously represented by the Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM), and the Michigan Association of Public Employees (MAPE), representing the Livingston County Court Employees, was informed that Livingston County was unilaterally changing the terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreements with regard to eligibility for health care and prescription drug coverage. The County was refusing to "effects bargain" with regard to this unilateral change, which is required by the Public Employment Relations Act (PERA).

MAP and MAPE received more than thirty (30) calls from members stating that the County threatened to eliminate health care coverage during the Christmas holidays for those eligible and their dependents if various information was not provided. Livingston County refused to give individuals time to obtain the information beyond the Christmas holiday. In addition, the County advised employees that they had to obtain the information on their own time and at their expense.

The members realized the necessity for the information, but took issue with the timing and the fact that the County was requesting very private information with regard to dependents that the County wanted to retain. Numerous employees were concerned about the retention of personal information that the County had previously displayed a lackadaisical attitude.

Labor Relations Specialists Troy Scott, Ronald Palmquist, and Patrick Baidel, in conjunction with MAP/MAPE Labor Attorney Catherine Farrell, were stunned to learn from County representatives the POAM agreed, without any hesitation, to the unilateral changes with regard to this issue. MAP/MAPE, on the other hand, with support of the Livingston County Judges and Sherrif's Department Administration filed an unfair labor practice charge and a lawsuit requesting a temporary restraining order, which was scheduled to be heard in Genesee County.

After a lengthy telephone conference, the County came to the realization that they were in violation of the collective bargaining agreements and PERA. The primary issue that members had concern with, turning over private information with regard to employees and dependents, was addressed as were the other issues. MAP/MAPE was successful in ensuring that personal information would not be retained by the County.

In this day and age of identity theft, MAP/MAPE led the defense of its members and did not capitulate to the County. While POAM allowed the Country to violate PERA and unilaterally change conditions of employment without effects bargaining, MAP/MAPE protected our members and, according to our motto, were "ON GUARD FOR YOUR RIGHTS."