New Haven firefighters win injunction against statewide union
The city firefighters' union, Local 825, filed a four-count lawsuit in March alleging a breach of fiduciary duty against the UPFFA, which represents the state's fire departments.
In the lawsuit, the
UPFFA has argued that Local 825 did not properly disaffiliate with the state union and remained a member so UPFFA continued to collect membership dues from 2016 to present. UPFFA said since the local union didn't send its notice by certified mail and didn't allow all members to vote, the disaffiliation was not official, even though UPFFA was aware of emails and meetings held on the matter. Local 825 bylaws don't require all members to vote to leave, just the executive board.
The judge ruled dues would only be owed for the following fiscal year in which the disaffiliation notice was given. Since
As part of granting a temporary injunction motion Monday, the judge brought to an end a years-long struggle by Local 825 to "win their freedom from UPFFA," according to a release from The Fairness Center, a nonprofit that provides free legal services to those hurt by public sector union officials.
"
The temporary injunction blocks UPFFA from moving forward with charges it filed against the principal officers of
Local 825 is seeking restitution of about
"The union will probably be able to prove some of its claim that its dues were misused but the court has insufficient evidence at this time to justify any order offsetting the dues likely owed for 2016 or requiring any money from the state union be put aside or given to the local," the decision said.
As the lawsuit moves forward, UPFFA's handling and expenditure of its finances will be closely examined, the release said.
"I believe the UPFFA attempted to circumvent the court with frivolous charges in an effort to remove the leadership of
The UPFFA has not returned a request seeking comment.
"Injunction motions of this nature are notoriously difficult to win," said
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