Supreme Court: Brainerd Violated State Labor Laws

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Supreme Court says the city of Brainerd violated state labor laws when it restructured the fire department and dissolved the firefighters union.

The city says it was within its managerial rights to move to part-time firefighters without benefits in order to save money. But, the Supreme Court said in a ruling Wednesday that those managerial rights do not allow it to interfere with the union. The high court ruled eliminating full-time union jobs is an unfair labor practice.

The attorney who represented the Firefighters Union Local 4725, Marshall Tanick, said the case is ``extremely important'' because of its effect on public unions and municipalities.