9.1. SR 11-15-1999
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Item #9.1.
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Mayor & city council
FROM:
Pat Klaers, City Administrator
DATE:
November 15,1999
SUBJECT: Police Union Update
.
The three-year police contract for the seventeen-member union expires at the
end of 1999. It is typical for union contracts to be finalized after the expiration
of the existing contract. Nonetheless, the city and union representatives began
discussions regarding another three-year contract during the past summer. A
proposal, subject to City Council approval, was deemed acceptable by both city
staff and union representatives. However, this proposal was defeated by a
vote of the union members. At that point, the union requested mediation and
this request was just recently filed at the State Bureau of Mediation Services.
This is a fairly normal and standard step in the negotiation process. To date,
the city has not been contacted regarding mediation meeting dates.
If the City Council needs to discuss the specifics of the proposal that was
rejected, we should then delay that discussion until November 22, 1999, and
have that discussion at an executive session rather than a regular meeting
that is open to the public. In putting together the proposal that the union
voted on, staff followed past council guidelines as they relate to wage and
benefit adjustments.
Additionally the City Council should be advised that the four police sergeants
in the Elk River Police Department have filed for establishment of a union.
The city has just responded to the "stipulations of the parties," and it is
expected that the four sergeants will formally vote whether or not to become a
new union sometime next month.
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13065 Orono Parkway. P.O. Box 490. Elk River, MN 55330. TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420. Fax: (612) 441-7425