District Council 33 of American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees v. Philadelphia

55 Pa. D. & C.2d 679, 1971 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 223
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County
DecidedJune 1, 1971
Docketnos. 3434, 3271, 3264 and 3270
StatusPublished

This text of 55 Pa. D. & C.2d 679 (District Council 33 of American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees v. Philadelphia) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
District Council 33 of American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees v. Philadelphia, 55 Pa. D. & C.2d 679, 1971 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 223 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1971).

Opinion

HIRSH, J.,

This matter is before the court on four different actions in equity which have been instituted against the City of Philadelphia by employes who are receiving disability benefits under Civil Service Regulation 32. A complaint in equity was filed by District Council 33 on behalf of the non-uniformed employes. A complaint in mandamus was filed by firemen of the City of Philadelphia, who are under regulation 32. A complaint in equity and an action in mandamus were filed by police officers who are under regulation 32.

Regulation 32 covers those employes who are injured on duty. This action is particularly concerned [680]*680with those who are declared permanently and partially disabled.

Regulation 32.0613 provides that an employe who is partially disabled and refuses to cooperate in the placement program shall be limited to disability benefits of one year from the date of disability.

Regulation 32.0642 provides that those disabled employes who signify their willingness to take a secondary position and cannot be immediately placed, shall be compensated at full salary for a period not to exceed three years.

Regulation 32.06213 provides that those disabled employes in a secondary position shall receive as supplemental pay, the difference between the salary of the secondary position and the salary of their regular position, so that their pay will equal the amount that they would have been entitled to had they not been hurt.

Those employes who receive payments under regulation 32 are paid by the Director of Finance from a fund entitled “Employees Disability Benefits.” These benefits are contained in the current budget at page 8. The total figure is $2,743,000.

Defendants admit that there is no question that under regulation 32 these employes are entitled to be paid their salary while awaiting placement, and their supplemental salary as long as they occupy secondary positions, if the funds are available. Defendants aver, however, that the funds at this point have been exhausted and that this fact discharges any liability on their part under regulation 32.

The letter of Foster B. Roser, Personnel Director, dated January 15, 1971, which is attached as an exhibit to the complaint, states as follows:

“I have been informed by Finance Director Romanus J. Buckley that budgeted funds for the pur[681]*681pose of financing payments to employees entitled to Regulation 32 benefits will be exhausted on January 29, 1971, and therefore no further payments for such purpose will be made after that date.”

Plaintiffs argue that if this is the case, defendants are required to make such appropriation of funds as may be necessary to meet their obligation under regulation 32 of the Civil Service Regulations of the City of Philadelphia.

At trial the parties agreed to make a part of the record the following exhibits:

P-1. Contract between the City of Philadelphia and District Council 33 with all appendages thereto.

P-2. Arbitration award between the Philadelphia Federation of Police Lodge No. 5 and the City of Philadelphia.

P-3. Arbitration award between the City Fire Fighters Association Local No. 22 and the City of Philadelphia.

P-4. Copy of Regulation 32.

P-5. Letter dated January 15, 1971, from Foster B. Roser, Personnel Director of the City of Philadelphia, to plaintiff Charles A. Thomas.

P-6. Booklet titled Questions and Answers related to Civil Service Regulation 32 and Information Booklet.

P-7. Letter signed by Mayor James H. J. Tate dated January 26, 1971.

P-8. Police Department document showing names and assignments of 51 policemen working under regulation 32.

P-9. Police Department accident statistics.

P-10. Police Department vehicle statistics.

P-11. Police Department accident report.

The issue raised is whether this court may enjoin defendants from terminating payments due under [682]*682regulation 32 and whether this court may order defendants to make the necessary appropriations so that required payments under regulation 32 can be made.

FINDINGS OF FACT

The court finds the following facts:

1. Plaintiffs are employes of the City of Philadelphia receiving disability benefits under Civil Service Regulation 32.

2. Plaintiffs received a letter from the Personnel Director of the City of Philadelphia which set forth that . . budgeted funds for the purpose of financing payments to employees entitled to Regulation 32 benefits will be exhausted on January 29, 1971, and therefore no further payments for such purpose will be made after that date.”

3. The course of conduct contemplated by the City of Philadelphia as set forth in the letter of the Personnel Director constitutes a dispute under 43 PS §217.4a.

4. The said dispute arises from unilateral action of the City of Philadelphia.

5. Regulation 32 benefits are an integral part of the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the employes involved.

6. Pursuance of the course of conduct contemplated by the city in terminating payments under regulation 32 would result in a work slow-down or strike by plaintiffs.

7. Such a slow-down or strike would result in serious consequences to the City of Philadelphia and the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of the said city would be affected thereby.

DISCUSSION OF FACTS AND LAW

Plaintiffs ask that the City of Philadelphia be en[683]*683joined from terminating regulation 32 benefits and also that the city be ordered to appropriate necessary funds to make those payments required under regulation 32. The city admits that there is no question under regulation 32 that these employes are entitled to be paid their salary while awaiting placement, and their supplemental salary as long as they keep secondary positions if the funds are available. The city contends, however, that the funds for such payments have been exhausted and that this presents a complete defense to any law suit by these plaintiffs and that, therefore, any liability of the city under regulation 32 is not enforceable either by any action at law, in equity or otherwise.

Because this matter introduces questions involving the city charter and civil service regulations, it is necessary to review the enabling legislation which gives Philadelphia the authority to be a home rule charter city. According to this enabling legislation, home rule charter is not absolute. Limitations on home rule charter are contained in 53 PS §13133-(b)(c). Thatistosay, . . no city shall exercise powers contrary to, or in limitation or enlargement of, powers granted by acts of the General Assembly which are:

“(a) . . .
“(b) Applicable in every part of the Commonwealth.
“(c) Applicable to all cities of the Commonwealth.”

To the extent, therefore, that any provision of the home rule charter would be inconsistent with the enabling act as set forth above, it would be void.

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Bluebook (online)
55 Pa. D. & C.2d 679, 1971 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 223, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/district-council-33-of-american-federation-of-state-county-municipal-pactcomplphilad-1971.