First Thursday
Business & Finance
About
A monthly podcast from LRIS that provides in-depth coverage of trends in public sector labor relations.
Episodes
- First Thursday, May 2026
This episode of First Thursday features Rick Poulson discussing the impact of gambling apps on public safety and labor environments. The conversation covers the legal landscape, including ADA limitations and evolving state laws, as well as…
- First Thursday, April 2026
This episode of First Thursday covers several recent legal cases. Topics include a First Amendment challenge to a termination, a refusal to make firefighters whole for W-2 errors, a New Jersey labor board's decision on social media posts,…
- First Thursday, March 2026
The First Thursday podcast discusses the U.S. Supreme Court case United States v. Hemani, which examines the constitutionality of a federal law prohibiting unlawful drug users from possessing firearms. The case specifically addresses marij…
- First Thursday, February 2026
The February 2026 First Thursday episode examines four legal cases where employers focused on technical definitions or procedural arguments to contest employee rights. The cases cover Weingarten Rights, a New Hampshire Supreme Court ruling…
- First Thursday, January 2026, Part 2
In part two of the January 2026 episode, Rick provides predictions for 2026 covering the economy, recruitment and retention in law enforcement, and the courts.
- First Thursday, January 2026, Part 1
This episode of First Thursday, posted in January 2026, reviews the top three public safety labor relations issues of 2025. It discusses developments at LRIS, privacy cases like Melton v. City of Forrest City, and recruiting/retention issu…
- First Thursday, December 2025
The December 2025 episode of First Thursday reviews upcoming LRIS seminars and several legal cases. Topics include a Ohio public records case, a Pennsylvania firefighter's compensation appeal, and decisions regarding probationary employees…
- First Thursday, November 2025
Richard Poulson interviews Memphis Police Association President Matt Cunningham regarding the deployment of national guard troops. The discussion also touches upon recent Labor Board rulings concerning schedule changes and information prod…
- First Thursday, October 2025
On First Thursday, Rick and labor attorney Jessica Caggiano discuss protected speech for public employees, focusing on the impact of social media. They examine how courts evaluate disruptive speech in the workplace, referencing significant…
- First Thursday, September 2025
This episode features an interview with Bob Brooks, a former firefighter and union leader, discussing his campaign to represent Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district. The conversation emphasizes the significance of political participat…
- First Thursday, August 2025
Rick and labor attorney Jesse Bernstein discuss the no tax on overtime provision from a recent budget bill. They also review several labor law cases, including those related to police citizen complaints, unilateral changes to attendance po…
- First Thursday, July 2025
In the July 2025 episode of First Thursday, host Rick and guest Jesse Bernstein, a Philadelphia labor attorney, discuss several legal cases. Topics include police officer cross-examination, United States v. Clanton, Oregon Corrections Ente…
- First Thursday, June 2025
The June 2025 episode of First Thursday addresses frequently asked questions regarding fitness for duty exams, union activity, and promotions. It also reviews several legal cases, including those related to unlawful fitness-for-duty exams,…
- First Thursday, May 2025
The May 2025 episode of First Thursday covers updates with LRIS. It discusses legal cases regarding Seattle Officers at the Jan 6 Rally, a terminated firefighter's perceived speech claim, a ULP related to an email from a NJ Administrator t…
- First Thursday, April 2025
In this episode of First Thursday, Rick and economist Jeremy Crimmel explore the nation’s economic outlook and the potential effects of tariffs on inflation. The discussion also covers three legal cases: the Louisiana Police Association’s…
- First Thursday, March 2025
In March 2025, Rick discusses the FOP Pennsylvania State Lodge v. Springfield Township free speech case regarding a police association's logo. He also speaks with attorney Lance LoRusso about the Blue Line Lawyer Institute and the Supreme…
- First Thursday, February 2025
First Thursday discusses the connections between various types of workers and highlights a recent union-busting case in Douglas County, Colorado, involving FOP Lodge 47 and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The episode also touches on l…
- First Thursday, January 2025
This episode of First Thursday covers a legislative victory for public sector employees and reviews 2024 wage trends. It also examines two court cases: Bedard v. City of Los Angeles regarding due process for an LAPD officer and Shifflett v…
- First Thursday, December 2024
In the December 2024 episode of First Thursday, Rick discusses "Pensions and Politics," the Social Security Fairness Act, and the issue of progressive District Attorneys. He also covers two legal cases: Doe v. City of Manchester and Allegh…
- First Thursday, November 2024
The November First Thursday episode covers four legal cases: Gilmore v. Gallego, Borgelt v. Austin Firefighters Ass’n, Fenico et al v. City of Philadelphia, and Boyd v. City of Memphis. Two cases involve union leave, and two concern social…
- First Thursday, October 2024
In the October 2024 episode of First Thursday, LRIS Executive Director Rick Poulson examines four legal cases. The discussion covers two cases related to free speech and two concerning prosecutorial immunity.
- First Thursday, September 2024
Michael Freeman of the New Jersey Police Benevolent Association and Rick Poulson discuss Mike’s career in law enforcement labor relations. They cover cases concerning marijuana use and free speech, including those related to police marijua…
- First Thursday, August 2024
Rick Poulson interviews attorney Tom Gribbin about representing correctional officers and discusses recent legal cases impacting their work, including issues of sick leave, document access during negotiations, mandatory diversity training,…
- First Thursday, July 2024
This episode of First Thursday remembers Arbitrator Dave Gaba, featuring an interview with his friend and mentee, Arbitrator Michael Loconto, conducted by Rick Poulson. The discussion includes recent legal cases: Town of Plympton vs. Plymp…
- First Thursday, June 2024
This episode features an interview with Will Aitchison by Rick Poulson, focusing on Aitchison's career in public safety labor relations. Topics include his journey into labor law, the establishment of LRIS, the rationale behind seminars fo…
- First Thursday, May 2024
In the May 2024 episode of First Thursday, host Rick Poulson speaks with attorney Lance LoRusso about the challenges facing police officers and their advocates. The discussion covers LoRusso's background and several recent legal cases conc…
- First Thursday, April 2024
Rick Poulson joins the LRIS First Thursday Podcast as cohost for the April episode. He discusses his background and legal career while breaking down specific cases, including State v. Flynn and Department of Corrections v. Pennsylvania Sta…
- First Thursday, March 2024
This episode of First Thursday covers several legal developments including the rewrite of California
- First Thursday, February 2024
The February 2024 First Thursday episode covers positive US economic news, including falling inflation and rising growth. It also examines four labor law cases: Wisconsin Municipalities v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, Michiga…
- First Thursday, January 2024
This episode of First Thursday discusses a Mackinac Center study on police reform through collective bargaining, highlighting a critical flaw in its approach to disciplinary arbitration. It also reviews recent legal cases including Garrity…
- First Thursday, December 2023
This episode of First Thursday reviews several legal cases from December 2023, including decisions on cell phone warrants, the legality of banning the "thin blue line" flag, and union bargaining rights. It also briefly mentions "Duck: The…
- First Thursday, November 2023
In November 2023, First Thursday discussed current events in AI and policing, specifically San Jose
- First Thursday, October 2023
The October 2023 episode of First Thursday covers three legal cases involving police officers: their privacy rights concerning January 6 rally participation, a department's Garrity failure leading to reinstatement, and the public concern s…
- First Thursday, September 2023
This episode of First Thursday addresses the persistent recruitment and retention crisis in public safety, noting examples like significant hiring bonuses and the disbanding of police forces. It also reviews legal cases concerning employer…
- First Thursday, August 2023
The August 2023 episode of First Thursday reviews several legal cases. Topics include a Florida court decision on CO termination for marijuana use, Weingarten Rights in counseling memo situations, privacy rights regarding on-duty activitie…
- First Thursday, July 2023
The July 2023 episode of First Thursday discusses important Supreme Court cases such as Groff v. Dejoy and Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows of Harvard College. It also covers recent news on NYPD contracts, EEOC g…
- First Thursday, June 2023
The June 2023 First Thursday episode covers several legal cases: Union, Not Member, Has Right To Invoke Arbitration; Paid Union Leave Legal In Texas; Political Patronage Case Subject To Arbitration; and Obtaining New Job Defeats Constituti…
- First Thursday, May 2023
This episode of First Thursday explores the concept of "precrime" and whether AI can predict adverse officer actions, referencing Benchmark Analytics. It reviews recent legal cases including Boston
- First Thursday, April 2023
This episode of First Thursday covers the initial applications of artificial intelligence in the public safety labor sector and considers what this means for the near future. It also references legal cases regarding officer privacy and pub…
- First Thursday, March 2023
The March 2023 episode of First Thursday covers several legal cases: a firefighter's unemployment benefits related to medical marijuana, privacy interests in online videos, a police officer's Facebook lawsuit, and the arbitration of "Me-To…
- First Thursday, February 2023
This episode of First Thursday reviews several legal cases from late 2022, including those related to police use of force, illegal discrimination in firefighter schedules, officer privacy in Dropbox accounts, workers' compensation limitati…
- First Thursday, January 2023
The January 2023 episode of First Thursday covers several late 2022 legal cases impacting public employees. Topics include religious freedom regarding photographs, firefighter staffing violations, backpay calculations, police vaccination r…
- First Thursday, December 2022
First Thursday covers several December 2022 legal cases: Hils v. Davis regarding recording interviews, Millspaugh v. Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services on firefighter free speech, Shouse v. County of Riverside about statute of limitat…
- First Thursday, November 2022
The November 2022 episode of First Thursday reviews several legal cases. Cases discussed include the City of Oklahoma City and Devin Frazier decision, Johnson v. Department of the Air Force, Anderson v. Molina, Tate v. Dart, and Lewis v. S…
- First Thursday, October 2022
This episode reviews several October 2022 labor law cases, discussing waivers of bargaining rights, corrections officers
- First Thursday, September 2022
This episode discusses policing and police staffing in Portland, Oregon. It references the article "The Injustice Of Under-Policing In America" and several legal cases, including Hernandez v. City of Phoenix and Kilmer v. State of Texas, c…
- First Thursday, August 2022
This episode of First Thursday reviews several legal cases from August 2022. Topics include the religious speech implications of the Supreme Court’s Kennedy decision, and specific court cases concerning Confederate flags, dishonesty, promo…
- First Thursday, July 2022
This episode discusses the Supreme Court's Kennedy v. Bremerton decision concerning public safety employees and employers, also referencing Garcetti v. Ceballos. Additional labor relations cases from New Jersey and Oregon are mentioned.
- First Thursday, June 2022
This episode of First Thursday reviews several legal cases from June 2022, covering topics such as employer retaliation, response to grievances, and the conditions under which Weingarten rights apply.
- First Thursday, May 2022
The May 2022 First Thursday episode discusses the New Jersey Attorney General's cannabis compliance memo. It also covers legal cases related to officer conduct in Buffalo, free speech and firefighter shift changes, qualified immunity and w…