Panel bars hiring part-timers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100122/NEWS01/701229907

By Chip Olsen
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A state panel that resolves labor disputes has ruled that Douglas County cannot use part-time employees to avoid paying overtime at its jail.

The Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations ruled this week that the county committed a “prohibited practice” by hiring part-time correctional officers without first negotiating with the officers' union, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 8.

“We felt that this was a pretty obvious prohibitive practice that they engaged in,” said John Corrigan, union attorney. “We certainly have problems, huge problems, with giving bargaining unit work to part-time workers.”

The case stems from the County Board's efforts last summer to hire part-time workers at the jail to curb overtime hours.

The union argued against the changes, saying part-time officers would present a safety concern.

Three full-time correctional officers were paid more than $100,000 in 2008 to supervise inmates. Each logged at least 900 hours in overtime, and each boosted annual pay by $40,000 or more.

FULL story at link.