Attorney Richard Poulson Quoted Regarding Pittsburgh Police Union Contract Arbitration

Willig, Williams & Davidson labor attorney Richard G. Poulson recently was quoted in news stories in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh City Paper regarding the latest developments in the city’s negotiations with its police union over contract details. Poulson is representing nearly 900 City of Pittsburgh police officers in arbitration hearings to decide the terms of Lodge 1’s new collective bargaining agreement.

In his opening presentation, Poulson focused on legal interpretations of Act 47, a state oversight program for financially distressed cities such as Pittsburgh which creates a financial-oversight mechanism that can constrain what cities pay to police officers. Poulson argued that the city is more financially solvent than its “financially distressed” status makes it seem and can afford to pay officers more and increase other benefits.

“If you came down from Mars, you would have no idea this city is distressed,” said Poulson.

Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story and click here to read the Pittsburgh City Paper story.