Court order forces school to re-hire custodian

WEYMOUTH, MA — A state arbitrator with the Division of Labor Relations ordered Weymouth Public Schools officials to rehire a custodian they fired shortly after his arrest for cocaine possession 11 years ago, according to the Weymouth News.

Michael Mulvaney was employed at the Johnson Early Childhood Center before his arrest in 1988; a judge eventually dismissed the charge, the story stated. According to the story, Mulvaney is now working at Ralph Talbot Primary School.

Mulvaney was put on administrative leave following the incident, but filed a grievance to contest the firing four days later, demanding to be compensated for all lost wages and benefits because there was no evidence his conduct had any affect on students or school employees, the story noted.

A hearing will be held within the next 30 days to decide whether Mulvaney is entitled to receive back pay and benefits for the period he was not on the job, the story added.

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