The Florida Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC or the commission) recently affirmed the decision of its hearing officer finding that IUPA 6020 President Jeff Bell was not credible in his testimony at a hearing under oath about contract negotiations between IUPA and the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
IUPA filed the Unfair Labor Practice charge alleging that the Sheriff’s Office had changed discipline procedures for deputies and sergeants contrary to the collective bargaining agreement and Florida law. On April 20, the hearing officer issued his recommended order concluding that BSO did not violate the union’s contract or the law and that IUPA President Bell was not credible in his account of the contract negotiations. The hearing officer wrote in the recommended order, “[IUPA]’s arguments rely heavily on Bell’s testimony, who I found not to be credible.”
On July 17, the commission affirmed the hearing officer’s findings and conclusions determining that Bell was not credible and deciding that the Sheriff’s Office is correctly applying the discipline procedures pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement with IUPA.
Date: July 20, 2020
