Philadelphia Gas Works v. Gas Workers' Employee Union Local 686

**What happened:** John Lafferty worked for Philadelphia Gas Works but was fired because his employer claimed he violated a rule requiring employees to live within Philadelphia city limits. Lafferty maintained multiple homes, including one in Philadelphia, but the company argued this wasn't enough to meet their residency requirement. The union fought the termination through arbitration. **What the court decided:** The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court sided with Lafferty and the union. The court confirmed an arbitration ruling that ordered Philadelphia Gas Works to give Lafferty his job back with full back pay. The court found that having multiple residences, as long as one was in Philadelphia, satisfied the city residency requirement. **Why this matters for workers:** This case shows that residency requirements for public sector jobs must be interpreted reasonably. Workers who maintain a legitimate residence in the required area shouldn't lose their jobs just because they also have homes elsewhere. The ruling also demonstrates the value of union representation and arbitration in fighting wrongful terminations. It protects employees who need flexibility in their living arrangements while still meeting their employer's basic residency rules.