2026- No Retaliation in the City of Westfield

Barrault and Associates has received a favorable decision from the Department of Labor Relations in our representation of a Fire Captain out of Westfield, MA. The hearing officer agreed with Attorney Hailey Ferguson that statements made by the Fire Chief that discourage filing a grievance violate the Law, especially where the grievant is actively engaged in a promotional process where such statements would have an especially chilling effect on a bargaining unit member.

See full case below.