The Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Penn. - An arbitration panel issued tough new disciplinary rules for state troopers yesterday, settling an impasse over the union’s collective-bargaining agreement.
Under the ruling, disciplinary violations that can result in firing include sexual harassment or misconduct, violent or threatening domestic conflicts, lying or fraud, theft, felony or serious-misdemeanor crimes, drug use, drunken driving in a state vehicle, and fighting or “unauthorized physical violence” on the job.
Disciplinary procedures were put on the front burner after Gov. Rendell encountered a series of sexual-misconduct problems within the department shortly after taking office. Litigation concerning Trooper Michael K. Evans of the Skippack Barracks, who pleaded guilty to sex crimes in 2000, brought to light patterns of sexual misconduct going back several years.
Yesterday’s ruling also stopped the practice by which arbitrators have reversed penalties for serious infractions.
“From the administration’s perspective, this is a fantastic result for your average, upstanding trooper,” said Adrian R. King Jr., deputy chief of staff to Rendell.
A spokesman for the troopers’ union called it a “fair and just award.”
The contract, retroactive to July 1, calls for wages to go up 3 percent this year, then by 3.5 percent, 3.5 percent and 4 percent. The raises are considerably more than the administration had sought, and more than other public-employee unions have received in recent years.
The governor’s office calculated the additional cost over four years at $89.4 million.
Sgt. Bruce Edwards, head of the 4,200-member Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, said he was satisfied with the award.
“The changes that were made here in discipline are things that all the members, I believe, can live with,” Edwards said.