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Case: AFGE Local 1658 and Army Tank-Automotive Command Arbitrator: E Frank Cornelius, PhD, JD, Website: arbitrator.org, full text accessible from OPINIONS icon on website Email: frankcornelius@alum.MIT.edu Decision Date: September 6, 2011 Citations: 11-2 ARB ¶ 5361, 2011 WL 7637774, 111 LRP 61232 US Soldiers in an Army Tank The Grievance The case involved a grievance filed by American Federation of Government Employees Local 1658 against U.S. Army Tank Command concerning a f

Case: IBEW Local No. 193 vs. City of Springfield Arbitrator: E Frank Cornelius, PhD, JD, Website: arbitrator.org, Email: frankcornelius@alum.MIT.edu Decision Date: January 13, 2026 Citations: 2026 BNA LA 3, 26-1 ARB ¶ 8871, 2026 WL 357475 Electrical Lineman at Work Background The dispute arose after the City awarded a Permanent Relief Troubleman position to an employee selected by management (the “Appointee”). The Union filed a grievance on behalf of another employee (the “Gr

At least not in Illinois, because that state has what is commonly known as a quota law. It prohibits a municipality, for the purposes of evaluating an officer's job performance, of comparing the number of tickets that they write, to the number of tickets written by other police officers with similar jobs. Specifically, Illinois Municipal Code, 65 ILCS 5/11-1-12 provides: Quotas prohibited. A municipality may not require a police officer to issue a specific number of citat

A hand signing a document titled "Last Chance Agreement," symbolizing a critical opportunity for resolution. AFGE Local 1770 and Department of the Army , 2022 BNA LA 252, 2022 BL 281061, 22-2 ARB ¶ 8040, 2022 WL 3644541, 122 LRP 27029, (Cornelius, Arb, July 25, 2022); Also available on arbitrator.org/opinions , 90. US Army March 18, 2026 Arbitrator E. Frank Cornelius, PhD, JD This is the first of several blog posts about cases in which the arbitrator has addressed the

Understanding Last Chance Agreements, AFGE Local 1770 and Department of the Army Case Explained

When a labor dispute arises, resolving it quickly and fairly is crucial for both employees and employers. One tool often used in these situations is the last chance agreement . This type of agreement can play a key role in grievance settlements by offering a final opportunity for an employee to correct behavior or performance issues before termination. Understanding how last chance agreements work helps both parties navigate labor disputes with clearer expectations and better