In the case of State Police Association of Massachusetts v. Alben, the State Police Association of Massachusetts (SPAM) and several state troopers filed a complaint against two Massachusetts State Police (State Police) and Massachusett Port Authority (MassPort) officials for not providing overtime compensation. MassPort was contracting with the State Police for police services at Logan International Airport, which is where the troopers worked.
The troopers argued that they were entitled to overtime pay under the Massachusetts General Laws (GL) that mandate time-and-a-half for overtime work by State troopers. However, the State Police and MassPort officials argued that the troopers were not entitled to overtime pay because their work was covered by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The CBA was an agreement between the State Police and MassPort stating that a lower rate of pay was given for work performed at the airport.
The trial court ruled in favor of the State Police and MassPort but the case was appealed by the troopers. Despite that, the judgment remained the same as the CBA’s terms for work took priority over the overtime rate required by the state law. The court ordered the dismissal of this case.
Key lessons from this case:
- This case shows how the terms of the CBA can take precedence over conflicting provisions in state statutes, including overtime pay requirements.
- Employees need to be made aware of their work hours and how much they will be compensated for it.
- Employment contracts should clearly outline the terms and conditions regarding overtime.
If you want to know more about overtime regulations, read our guide on Massachusetts Overtime Laws.
