Most people are not fans of lawn work, especially cutting the grass. Yet in Pennsville Township, people are fighting to do it.

In early June, Teamsters Local Union No. 676 filed a grievance against Pennsville Township for non-union employees doing union designated work.

The grievance was filed when the union heard Pennsville Mayor Thomas Strong was cutting grass and doing other landscaping work at the Pennsville Municipal Building on North Broadway.

In the original union grievance form, the union asked for eight hours pay and benefits to employees who are laid off, for every instance work was performed by the mayor.

Township Solicitor Walter Ray said the grievance, which has since then been resolved, is technical and philosophical and not an issue that could cause any damages.

“How do you fault a guy for cutting the grass around town hall?” Ray asked.

Strong said he was not trying to take any jobs away from union workers.

“It was never my intention to take somebody’s job by cutting the grass at town hall or planting some shrubbery,” Strong said. “What I wanted to do was to do some beautification here in town and turn the appearance of town hall around. I enjoy doing that kind of work. It gives me time to think while I’m out there. It was never my intention to take somebody’s job.”

Ray said the grievance was resolved by an agreement. He said both sides sat down and talked about the issue and realized there was no real threat.

It was later agreed that the grass will no longer be cut by Strong, but cut by seasonal personnel, under the mayor’s supervision.

The union agreed to the offer with the understanding that they reserve the right to pursue this matter to the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) if the mayor was to resume his volunteer landscaping work.

No monetary compensation was paid to the union.

Since the grievance was filed a seasonal union employee have been taking care of the municipal building’s landscaping.