State Investigators Easily Turn Back Trooper Challenge

State Investigators Easily Turn Back Trooper Challenge


Members of the New York State Police Investigators Association have voted overwhelmingly, 857-242, to keep it as their union representative rather than merge with the larger New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association, union President Matthew A. Tynan announced.

Both the NYSPIA and the Troopers PBA represent Bureau of Criminal Investigations personnel within the State Police. NYSPIA bargains for Investigators, Senior Investigators and Investigative Specialists; the Troopers PBA is comprised mostly of uniformed troopers.

In 1996, NYSPIA broke away from the larger 37,000-member union, according to Mr. Tynan, because its members wanted more autonomy and improved representation. "We were outnumbered and the troopers unit controlled all the decisions," he said in a May 27 interview.

The PBA launched a campaign in 2006 to see if the 1,300 investigators wanted to re-join their union. If 30 percent had said yes, an election would have been required. President Daniel M. De Federicis said in a statement, "Many Investigators told us they respected everything the PBA has accomplished for our members ... this election originally stemmed from a group of dissatisfied NYSPIA members who asked us to help them ..."

Mr. Tynan acknowledged the critics within his ranks, but noted that only 22 percent of those who voted wanted to change unions. "The PBA tried to raid us and take us back ... they preyed on a small vocal group who was in the minority and alleged it was 30 percent," he charged.

The NYSPIA disputed the validity of the vote count and sought a ruling from the state Public Employment Relations Board. Because of protracted efforts to fill a vacancy on the state board, the two unions decided to hold the election rather than continue waiting. The investigators have been working without a contract since March 31, 2007 and could not move forward with negotiations without first resolving the PBA issue.

"I wanted to get going with our negotiations already," said Mr. Tynan. He called the high ballot return and the strong vote to stay with NYSPIA "stunning."