6.5. SR 01-16-2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Elk River REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Agenda Section Meeting Date Administration 16, 2007 Item Description Consider Master Labor Agreement Between City of Elk River and Law Enforcement Labor Services Local 231 for January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008 Administrator Introduction At the January 8 executive session, the Council discussed the status of negotiations with LELS Local 231 representing the patrol officers and reviewed the proposed setdement for the contract starting January 1, 2007. The union has voted to approve the proposal as discussed and staff recommends that Council approve the proposal and adopt the Master Labor Agreement Between the City of Elk River and Law Enforcement Labor Services Local 231 for January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008. Discussion The new contract includes changes in wages, insurance, uniform allowance, court time, and post retirement health care. The term will be for two years. The changes are summarized below: Pay: In 2006, the City Council did a study of non-union pay and benchmarked pay to 12 comparable cities at the sixtieth percentile. The police union requested that pay rates for the patrol officers be benchmarked against those same 12 cities and be placed at the sixtieth percentile of those cities. The police union requested a five percent increase in pay in 2007 and a three percent increase in 2008. The five percent increase is consistent with the sixtieth percentile of the 12 comparable cities. Therefore, the wage increases included in the contract are five percent in 2007 and three percent in 2008. Insurance: Union employees will no longer be covered by a separate health insurance policy as they have been since changes in the Minnesota Care law allowed for small employer groups (less than 50 employees) to be rated differendy than large groups. Rates for the union were better under the small employer plan so they split from the non-union employees. Small employer rates are age rated and because of the size of the group, only one insurance plan is offered. The age rated premiums are no longer beneficial to the union and the employees will benefit from three different plan choices under the city's plan. The union will join the non-union plan and receive the same insurance benefits and city contribution as non-union employees. This change will take effect March 1,2007, to accommodate the 30 day cancellation requirement under the union's current health insurance contract. Uniforms: The uniform allowance is proposed to increase $20 per year to $655 in 2007 and $675 in 2008. Second, additional language was added addressing issues with employees who do not successfully complete field training and employees who are terminating employment with the city. This language will allow the city to retain the uniforms and equipment of employees who do not complete field training and will not allow employees who have given notice of intent to terminate employment to purchase or be reimbursed for uniforms or equipment. S:\Council\Lori\2007\LELS 231 Contract Agmt.doc