First Thursday

Richard Poulson, LRIS•lris.com

Government

A monthly podcast from LRIS that provides in-depth coverage of trends in public sector labor relations.

Last refreshed: August 15th, 2025 at 8:23 PM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

First Thursday, August 2025

Rick is joined again by labor attorney Jesse Bernstein to discuss the no tax on overtime provision from recent budget bill along with the usual roundup of cases. 00:01:15 – The latest from LRIS 00:03:17 – No tax on overtime Cases 00:14:57 – Police Association Counts As “Citizen” Under Citizen Complaint Scheme, Santa Ana Police Officers Association v. City of Santa Ana , 2025 Cal. App. LEXIS 115 (Cal. Ct. App. 2025). 00:25:34 – Rhode Island Supreme Court Permits Unilateral Changes To CO Attendanc...

Aug 07, 2025•52 min

First Thursday, July 2025

This month, Rick is joined by Philadelphia labor attorney Jesse Bernstein. The two discuss the following cases: NY Court Precludes Cross Examination Of Police Officers On Civilian Review Board Findings, United States v. Clanton , 763 F. Supp. 3d 261 (E.D. N.Y. 2025). (00:03:36) Bologna v. Krasner , 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 120185 (E.D. Pa. 2025). (00:24:25) Oregon Employer’s “Bargaining Summary” Emails To Officers Did Not Constitute Improper Direct Dealing, Oregon Corrections Enterprises , Case No....

Jul 03, 2025•1 hr 20 min

First Thursday, June 2025

FAQs 00:00:49 What are the limits on fitness for duty exams? What counts as protected union activity? Does a high test score entitle you to a promotion? What happens when a long-standing past practice conflicts with new (or old) contract language? What’s new with LRIS? 00:01:24 Cases Cook County CO WinsADA Remedy For Unlawful Fitness-For-Duty Exam, Nawara v. Cook Cnty., 132 F.4th 1031 (7th Cir. 2025). 00:03:06 Union President Engaged In Protected Concerted Activity When Sharing Confidential Repo...

Jun 05, 2025•51 min

First Thursday, May 2025

0:01:32 What’s new with LRIS. 0:03:20 Seattle Officers Who Attended Jan 6 Rally Cannot Remain Anonymous, John Does 1, 2, 4, & 5 v. Seattle Police Dep’t , 2025 Wash. LEXIS 86 (2025). 0:15:24 Terminated Firefighter’s “Perceived Speech” Claim Triggers First Amendment Protect ions, Vargas v. City of Tracy, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31591 (E.D. Cal. 2025). 0:25:30 Snippy And “Chilling” Email From NJ Administrator To Union President Constitutes ULP, City of Trenton, 51 NJPER ¶ 46 (2025). 0:36:43 NJ PE...

May 01, 2025•49 min

First Thursday, April 2025

Rick and economist Jeremy Crimmel discuss the nation’s economic outlook and what effects tariffs may have on inflation. Cases: State Court Confirms Louisiana Police Association’s Right to Engage in Political Activity, La. State Troopers Ass’n v. State Police Comm’n, 2025 La. App. LEXIS 135 (La. App. 1st Cir. Jan. 30, 2025). Bad Record Keeping Defense Fails For Louisiana Police Chief Caught With Drugs And Cash In Vehicle, State v. Bratton, 2025 La. App. LEXIS 331 (La. Ct. App. 2025). City Council...

Apr 03, 2025•57 min

First Thursday, March 2025

In this month’s podcast, Rick discusses an important free speech case involving a fight over a police association’s logo and speaks with police defense attorney Lance LoRusso about a use of force case being decided by the Supreme Court. 00:01:41 — What’s going on with LRIS. 00:02:50 — Union logo free speech case ( FOP Pennsylvania State Lodge v. Springfield Township ). 00:14:32 — Lance LoRusso talks about the Blue Line Lawyer Institute and its upcoming Force Forum on May 20-22 in Jekyll Island, ...

Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 4 min

First Thursday, February 2025

This month’s podcast explores the connections between all workers, whether public safety or civilian, federal or state, public or private. Rick Poulson is joined by his colleague Joe Richardson to discuss this with a focus on a recent union-busting case out of Douglas County Colorado. 0: 03:43 – What’s going on with LRIS? 0:06:08 – A bit of labor history, Part 1: The Boston police strike of 1919 0:12:38 – A bit of labor history, Part 2: PATCO strike of 1981 0:25:10 – Joe Richardson introduction ...

Feb 06, 2025•1 hr 2 min

First Thursday, January 2025

Happy 2025! The nasty bug that’s spreading across the East Coast hit our podcast host, Rick Poulson. He’s finally recovered enough to record this episode, but please forgive the cough. In this month’s podcast, we go over: A big legislative win for public sector employees. A look at wage increases for 2024. Two cases: Back pay, not reinstatement, for LAPD officer dealt a due process violation, Bedard v. City of Los Angeles , 2024 WL 4634930 (Cal. Ct. App. 2024). Court’s review of compliance with ...

Jan 10, 2025•45 min

First Thursday, December 2024

Happy holidays to all our listeners. In this month’s First Thursday podcast, Rick covers: Pensions and Politics. What is the Social Security Fairness Act and does it have a chance of being passed? Progressive DAs. Elon Musk has his sights set on them. This month’s cases: Officer’s DWI Arrest Not Exculpatory Evidence, Doe v. City of Manchester , No. 2022-0448 (N.H. 2024). Court Upholds Arbitration Award Allowing Cos To Refuse Mandatory Overtime, Allegheny County v. Allegheny County Prison Employe...

Dec 05, 2024•53 min

First Thursday, November 2024

Happy Veteran’s Day and thank you to all who served. Sorry we’re late! This month’s First Thursday should be renamed “Second Monday.” In this month’s podcast, Rick covers two union leave cases and two involving social media posts. The Cases: Gilmore v. Gallego , No. CV-23-0130-PR, 2024 WL 3590669 (Ariz., 2024). Borgelt v. Austin Firefighters Ass’n, IAFF Loc. 975, 692 S.W.3d 288 (Tex. 2024). Fenico et al v. City of Philadelphia , 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 195138 (E.D.Pa. October 28, 2024). Boyd v. Ci...

Nov 11, 2024•52 min

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android