Files grievance over lawn mowing
Litchfield.bz (6-7-10)

Workers at the town's sewer plant enjoy cutting the grass at the facility so much that they've filed a grievance because the job has been taken away from them.

The union representing the workers, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, filed the grievance with the Board of Selectmen last week after the Water Pollution Control Authority, which oversees the sewer plant, decided to contract lawn services.

Selectmen voted 3-1 to deny the grievance, leaving the union with the option of appealing the denial before the state Labor Board.

The union believes the responsibility of mowing the lawn falls on sewer workers under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between the union and the town. AFSCME also represents the town's highway department employees.

Sewer workers have been cutting the grass for 40 years.

The WPCA decided to contract its mowing services after its lawn mower broke down last year. No sewer workers have lost their jobs or had hours cut because they aren't allowed to mow.

WPCA Chairman David R. Wilson said workers have more important things to do than cut the grass. Maintaining the sewer plant and sewer system are higher priorities, he said.

The WPCA is paying $180 each time the grass is cut. A new mower would've cost an estimated $9,000.