ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The PAB Alliance and union representatives gathered at City Hall on Tuesday to protest the layoffs of six Police Accountability Board employees and demand their immediate reinstatement. Six PAB employees were released from their positions on April 17.
City officials said the layoffs were a consequence of a recent appeals court decision not to restore the agency’s investigative powers, according to speakers at the rally. “We do not accept this as a sole budget decision,” a PAB Alliance representative said. “We see it as retaliation and as another attempt to dismantle the work that 75% of this community voted for.”
Two of the six laid-off employees attended a City Council meeting on April 16, where they spoke in support of maintaining investigative positions and the agency’s mission. The next day, they were told they were being released from their positions, according to the PAB Alliance.
Maria Fisher, Communications Director with AFSCME Council 66, said the union was notified of the layoffs only minutes before PAB workers on April 17. Union representatives were denied access to the meeting where members were informed they were losing their jobs, even though workers requested union representation, Fisher said. “We believe both the timing and circumstances of these layoffs are highly suspicious,” Fisher said.
All six affected workers were recently part of an improper practice charge filed against the city regarding negotiations over benefits. On April 15, the State Public Employment Relations Board ruled in favor of the union and these members, Fisher said. City Council members Stanley Martin and Kiara Smith attended the rally to support the workers.
Martin said there was no notice to council members about the firings and no input from the community. “The decisions that have been made do feel retaliatory,” Martin said.
She added she found it contradictory to remove investigators while City Council is fighting to restore investigative powers. On April 16, City Council appealed the 4th Department’s decision regarding PAB’s investigative authority, according to speakers at the rally.
Pastor James Cooper of Love Fellowship Worship Center said he was representing the 75% of voters who voted for the PAB. He called on politicians and community leaders to stand up for the agency.
Ashley Gant with Free the People Rock said more than 20 employees have been fired, eliminated or laid off from the PAB in the last 22 months. She said residents continue to file complaints with the agency despite the court ruling. “That is not normal turnover,” Gant said. “That is instability by design and on purpose.” AFSCME Council 66 represents 10,000 members statewide, including PAB staff.
The union is taking action to restore the positions and called on City Council and the city to immediately reverse the layoffs.
News10NBC’s Adelisa Badzic reached out to the president of City Council, Miguel Melendez, he said he didn’t have direct comments on today’s presser since he didn’t see it, but his overall comment can be seen below.
“About a year ago, City Council through our legal counsel made the arguments that the court should hear our case regarding investigatory power in an expedited fashion because we had employees that could not do their assigned role. The court took our case early for this reason.
Once the case was heard, and the courts determined that the PAB could not investigate affirming a previous ruling, we had several positions that could no longer do their work. Anytime someone is let go, it is a tough and painful decision, but we must be responsible with taxpayer funds at a time where our resources are also limited. This is about compliance with the ruling, and we will continue to navigate through the legal / appeals process.
I certainly respect the union and others fighting for staff but this is a unique circumstance given the appeals process and recent outcomes. “
We also reached out to RPD’s union, The Locust Club, it added “courts have repeatedly ruled that the PAB’s activities regarding police discipline are illegal, yet the Rochester City Council continues to spend millions of tax dollars every year on it’s failed project and hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees while ignoring the clear reality of the situation. City taxpayers should be appalled at this blatant waste of their tax dollars.”
Union says Rochester PAB employees lost jobs minutes after favorable labor ruling, calls layoffs ‘highly suspicious’ WHEC.com.
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