| Courts side with police and fire unions, but election now in doubt
Should the City Charter be amended to require that outside arbitrators be the final decision makers in certain labor contract issues affecting city employees and the city budget rather than having the decision made by your elected mayor and city commission? EDINBURG Unions for McAllens police and firefighters said the way city officials worded an arbitration measure on the May ballot was unfair. On Tuesday, a state district judge agreed, ruling the city would have to reword the measure. While police and firefighters won the hearing, they now face an uphill battle trying to work out an agreement with the city ahead of the May 12 election. The McAllen Police Officers Union, along with the McAllen Firefighters Association, filed for an injunction last week protesting what they termed the misleading and untrue nature of the ballot language.
Faculty honor Virginia Tech victims, applaud Edgerton winner, in ...
The faculty observed a moment of silence at the April 18 faculty meeting for the victims of the tragedy at Virginia Tech. Theresa M. Stone, MIT's executive vice president and treasurer, and representatives from Campus Police and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) presented an overview of how news of the shootings has impacted emergency response discussions on campus. Stone emphasized that police and EHS personnel routinely use drills and exercises to anticipate every kind of emergency. William Van Schalkwyk, managing director of Environmental Health and Safety Programs, said an extensive communications system is in place that includes e-mail, emergency channels on cable TV and other ways to get messages out to the community. Some faculty members requested a system for following up on students whom they had referred to student services, while maintaining the students' privacy.
Tobacco Companies Fail To Make Full Payment To Vermont
April 19, 2007 - Vermont Attorney General William H. Sorrell announced that this week, for the second consecutive year, Vermont is receiving from the major domestic tobacco manufacturers about $3 million less than its entitlement under the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). Of the three largest tobacco companies, only one, Philip Morris, made its required payment in full. The other two, Reynolds American and Lorillard, along with several smaller companies, collectively withheld from the states more than $700 million of the total $6.75 billion in annual payments owed to the states. Of the payments distributed this week, Vermont received about $24.8 million. “Vermont uses its annual MSA payments to fund important public health programs, and the tobacco companies have got to stop playing this game with our money," Sorrell said.
Playlist: Popping the Question
When choosing the music, I was actually surprised at how few songs there are about getting engaged, since there is certainly no shortage of love songs in this world. But don't worry: With some inspiration from my music collection, as well as FitSugar's, I've put together a sweet little song list I hope you all enjoy. There are some ring-finger-worthy gems here, including the Drive-By Truckers' rock anthem "Marry Me" and the sappy but irresistible "Question" by the Old 97s. What would be on your engagement mix? To listen to the Playlist, just press "play" when you Source .
High courts cannot appoint arbitrators arbitrarily: SC
New Delhi, April 17: The Supreme Court has ruled that in arbitration disputes, high courts cannot appoint an arbitrator in a manner which is inconsistent with the arbitration agreement.
Any such appointment should be strictly in accordance with the mode of appointment stipulated in the agreement, a bench of Justices Tarun Chatterjee and P K Balasubramanyan has held, while quashing the appointment of Justice B C Verma, retired Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to arbitrate a dispute between the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation and a construction company.
The municipal corporation had challenged a Madhya Pradesh High Court's direction appointing Verma as an arbitrator to decide a contract row between the civic body and M/S Rajesh Construction Co.
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