Supervisors agree to pay back wages to ex-worker

The board ruled the township incorrectly designated a job as nonunion.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Union Township supervisors have agreed to pay back wages from April 1 to Nov. 5, 2004, to a former township employee whose job they abolished in the spring, a union official said.
Township officials, however, would not confirm any details of the payment.
Dan Groves, a representative from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said both sides reached a settlement before a Nov. 3 hearing before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board in Pittsburgh.
Reason for order
He said that the back wages were ordered because the township eliminated the job of former township employee Ann Richards, then created another clerical position, contended it was a nonunion position and hired someone else to fill it.
In January, Richards, who was a part of the road crew, lost her position when it was abolished.
Acting under labor contract provisions, she "bumped" clerk-typist Patty Johnston for her job because Richards had seniority.
Township supervisors then eliminated Richards' job and hired Johnston at $10 an hour to do a clerical job, which supervisors said was nonunion.
The labor relations board found that the job had been incorrectly designated a nonunion job, Groves said.
Richards, contacted Friday, would not comment and said only that Groves is her spokesman.
Township solicitor Joseph Kearney, also contacted Friday, would only say that an agreement has been reached but not yet announced. He declined to discuss the details.
Supervisors Steve Galizia and Pat Angiolelli met in special session last week and formally eliminated Richards' and Johnston's jobs, stating it was a cost-cutting measure. Supervisor Kevin Guinaugh did not attend the meeting.