03/01/10 The Greenwich First Selecrtman Report

Former town traffic engineer loses arbitration case against town
By Neil Vigdor, Greenwich Time Staff Writer

The town was cleared of any wrongdoing after a laid-off traffic engineer was passed over for another job in the public works administration that his union said he was qualified to have.

An independent arbitrator ruled Feb. 21 that Garo Garabedian was not qualified to rejoin the town's work force as its highway superintendent....

...."It affirms the town's actions in terms of abiding by the collective bargaining agreement and taking the appropriate steps to see that due process was granted," First Selectman Peter Tesei said of the binding decision.

A message seeking comment from Garabedian, who worked for the town for 28 years, was left Friday with his wife at his home in New Canaan.

Lynn Mason, business manager of the Laborers' International Union of North America Local 136, which represents both Garabedian and Roberto, lamented the outcome.

"I disagree with the decision entirely," said Mason, who explained that there is a mechanism that could allow Garabedian to appeal the ruling in court, though no decision has been made....

...Tesei said the union was taking the whole bumping process to the extreme.

"Clearly, LIUNA doesn't believe in equal representation of their members if they're siding with one over another," Tesei said....

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