HomeMy WebLinkAbout7C Labor Agreement
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AGENDA #:
PREPARED BY:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
BACKGROUND:
DISCUSSION:
ISSUES:
7C
FRANK BOYLES, CITY MANAGER
CONSIDER AUTHORIZATION TO RETAIN A LABOR NEGOTIATOR TO
CONCLUDE LABOR AGREEMENTS WITH CITY BARGAINING UNITS.
JAN UARY 3, 1994
City employees are represented by three bargaining units as follows:
1. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees, Council #14 (AFSCME) represents
approximately 20 professional, technical, clerical and
maintenance employees.
2. Law Enforcement Labor Services, Inc. (LELS) represents
eleven police officers and detectives.
3. Minnesota Teamster Public and Law Enforcement
Employees, Union Local 320 represents three Police
Sergeants.
The Council should determine whether it would be beneficial to retain a
labor negotiator to complete negotiations with these three bargaining
units this year.
Negotiating a new labor agreement is always difficult and time
consuming. In our case, this is the first year for negotiating a contract
both with the AFSCME and the Teamster 320 bargaining units.
It is especially important that the language of the new contracts be
understandable and protect the rights of both the employees and
employer. Reaching a conclusion on what is fair and right in the minds of
all parties is neither easy nor quick.
Labor negotiations require a great deal of preparation and meeting time.
When the City Manager acts as negotiator there is an added
complication in the negotiation process. Often, members of the employee
negotiation team will feel uncomfortable in raising issues they may be
willing to frankly speak about to an objective third party. With the City
Manager present those important issues may not receive the focus they
deserve.
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4629 Dakota 51. 5.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372 I Ph. (612) 447-4230 I Fax (612) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLDYER
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RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the Council give serious consideration to hiring a labor
relations specialist. I do not believe that the new Assistant City Manager
or I will be able to assume this responsibility, at least in the first year. In
subsequent years it may very well be unnecessary to hire a specialist.
Based upon the prices quoted and reference checks I have made, I
recommend Pete Bergstrom of Ratwik, Roszak, Bergstrom and Maloney
P.A. Mr. Bergstrom presently negotiates for the City of Savage and and
has provided similar services to Eagan. According to Mark McNeill and
Tom Hedges, Mr. Bergstrom is well versed in the process, familiar with
communities south of the river and able to expedite the negotiation
process. Mr. Bergstrom has confirmed for me that his proposal, like
Bernie Steffen's, is guaranteed for two years. I believe that hiring Mr.
Bergstrom will help me to better use my time and will result in higher
quality contract documents and a quicker completion of negotiations.
Funds for this purpose would have to be drawn from the $80,000
contingency account allocated in the 1994 City Budget.
ACTION REQUIRED: MOTION AND SECOND TO AUTHORIZE A LABOR NEGOTIATOR TO
COMPLETE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS AS SET FORTH ABOVE.
LABNEG.WRT
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