The Massachusetts Division of Labor Relations has ordered an expedited hearing to determine whether the Oak Bluffs fire and EMS department violated labor laws in retaliation against employees who formed a union earlier this year.

In a ruling issued Nov. 29, investigator Kendrah Davis ruled that 11 unfair labor practice charges filed by the Oak Bluffs professional firefighters and paramedics union, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), should go forward to a hearing. She also dismissed six other allegations filed by the union.

The town has 10 days to answer the notice of complaint by responding to each of the facts alleged by the union.

An attorney for the IAFF said the union is generally pleased with the investigator’s decision. He said the union has objected to the actions of Chief John Rose.

“The majority if not all complaints are derived from action he has taken, both in how he has changed the way things are done in the department and the way he has treated his employees,” said attorney James Hykel of the Boston law firm Pyle Rome Ehrenberg. “The vast majority of those were validated.”

Jack Collins, labor attorney for the town of Oak Bluffs, said he was not surprised at the Division of Labor Relations ruling.

“From the town’s point of view, the unusual part was she actually threw out several of their complaints,” said Mr. Collins. “She said there was no basis for it at all. That rarely happens. Ultimately all this individual skirmishing back and forth, in the long run, has to wait until they finally have a hearing.”

Mr. Collins said he expects the hearing to be held next spring, with a final decision issued next fall.