After several years of winding through the courts, and after a favorable PERB decision regarding the Town of Islip vehicle case, the Court of Appeals affirmed all the lower court's ruling that were previously made in the union's favor.
UPSEU and the Public Employee Relations Board which supported its decision, both presented arguments before the Court of Appeals. In its decision, the Court of Appeals remanded the case back to PERB to calculate damages.
The case centered on the town's decision to remove take-home vehicles from employees who had the benefit for a number of years. The town had decommissioned or sold off the vehicles after its decision to remove them from employees. PERB had initially ruled that that town did so without notification to or bargaining with the union.
The Court of Appeals decision did not require the town to buy new vehicles, but agreed that the town must pay the affected employees for costs associated with their travel to and from work. Most of the individuals were in positions that required them to return to work and to report to designated areas during emergencies within the town.
UPSEU President Kevin E. Boyle, Jr. stated, "We are pleased that this case was favorably ruled upon. It's unfortunate that the prior administration of the town caused this issue, wasting countless taxpayer's dollars. We eagerly await PERB's assessment of the damages and for affected employees to receive their appropriate compensation."
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