SEABROOK — Selectmen announced Monday they settled an unfair labor practice that alleged Selectman Srinivasan “Ravi” Ravikumar campaigned against the firefighters' contract behind the scenes.
The settlement puts to rest the complaint Seabrook Firefighters Local 2847 filed with the New Hampshire Public Employee Labor Relation Board in late March against the town's Select Board. The union charged the board violated state law RSA 273-a:5, which requires boards to publicly support any collective bargaining agreement – union contract – negotiated and ratified in good faith.
While selectmen approved and placed the firefighters' contract on the March 12 ballot, the union claimed Ravikumar spoke out on two occasions advising voters to reject the new contract.
On March 7, according to the complaint, Ravikumar uploaded a YouTube video titled “Seabrook Fire Department Call Data 2022 Analysis” and implored viewers to “vote no” on the town budget, firefighters’ contract and a warrant article to hire eight new firefighters.
"Further, on March 9, 2024,” according to the complaint, “Ravikumar sent an email to the Seabrook taxpayers and voters asking the public to vote no on funding the agreement that his body executed months prior.” The subject line of the email was "Don’t let the Firemen scare you!"
The firefighters' contract was approved March 12 by a vote of 960-541.
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According to union President Mark Potvin, the union’s goal in filing the complaint with the New Hampshire Public Employee Labor Relations Board was to have the Select Board agree to follow the state’s labor laws and regulations.
He said members are pleased with the settlement.
"This agreement not only resolves our concerns but also reaffirms the importance of adhering to state labor laws,” Potvin said. “We appreciate the Board of Selectman, for their willingness to engage in this process and come to a fair resolution.”
In the settlement, the board acknowledged Ravikumar “publicly campaigned against the funding” of the contract the board had ratified in a successful collective bargaining process.
According to the settlement, the union and the Select Board agree the Select Board “will publicly support the funding of any and all collective bargaining agreements ratified” by both parties “and any warrant articles put to vote relevant to such.”
It also stipulates that “no member of the board will publicly encourage rejection or voting against,” funding the contract that has been ratified by the board “whether by unanimous or majority vote.”
Ravikumar read the settlement deal aloud at Monday's Select Board meeting.
After he finished reading the settlement aloud, Ravikumar added that his “First Amendment right (of free speech) will not be curtailed by this agreement.”
Kyle quickly countered, “I don’t think First Amendment rights should be used as an excuse to make comments that violate state law.”
The settlement is signed by Potvin and Select Board members Harold Eaton and Theresa Kyle, making a majority of the board. Ravikumar’s signature is absent from the agreement.
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