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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPersonnel Committee - Minutes - 10/30/2003Personnel Committee Minutes October 30, 2003 8:30 am Jury Room Members in Attendance: John Blahnik, David Good , Neil Paulson, Brett Rondeau, Harold Maki Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison, Keith Larson, Tom Gordon, Paul Aschenbauer, Susan Butterfield, Rod Alstead, Amelia Lindsey, Kris Kavajecz Meeting was called to order at 8:30am by Chairman Blahnik. Motion by Good , second by Rondeau to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2003 meeting as presented. Motion Carried. Motion by Paulson , Second by Good to enter Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e,c) for the purpose of discussion and possible action regarding negotiation strategy for collective bargaining unit contract and Collective Bargaining with Teamsters Local 346. Roll Call Vote: all yes. Motion Carried Motion by Paulson, second by Good to return to open session. Roll Call Vote. All Yes, Motion Carried. Rod Alstead, Susan Butterfield, and Paul Aschenbauer entered the meeting at this time to represent Teamsters Local 346. Blahnik explained that the committee is in open session. Blahnik stated that the county intends to bargain in good faith and explained that in the past Tentative Agreements that have been bargained by the representation have not always been supported by the representatives when brought back to the membership. He asked that the Teamsters representative negotiate in good faith and support any Tentative Agreement that is reached. This was agreed to by the Teamsters representatives. Introductions of all participants were made. Abeles-Allison explained basic ground rules for negotiations including: Request Tentative Agreement in writing, signed and dated by both the county and Teamsters; Negotiate until noon, and if unable to reach an agreement at that point, schedule an additional session; Keep negotiations within the room. Union representatives agreed to the ground rules. Abeles-Allison provided the county’s opening proposal. Alstead provided the opening proposal from the Teamsters. Union proposed an increase in sick leave payout to 60%. Also proposed a 3% wage increase for each year, 2004-2006. Union would agree to the health insurance changes already agreed to by the AFSCME and WPPA unions. The contract period would be January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2006( 3 years). Abeles-Allison reviewed the county proposal, which was also for a 3-year contract, attachment identifies opening proposal. Teamsters representatives exited the meeting at this time to caucass. Motion by Paulson , Second by Maki to enter Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e,c) for the purpose of discussion and possible action regarding negotiation strategy for collective bargaining unit contract with Teamsters Local 346. Roll Call Vote: all yes. Motion Carried Motion by Paulson, second by Maki to return to open session. Roll Call. All yes. Motion Carried Teamsters representatives returned to the bargaining table. Abeles-Allison explained that the health insurance concessions agreed to still represent a 10% increase in health insurance overall, versus an 18% increase if the changes were not agreed to. County would like to extend the same health insurance coverage to hwy dept. The county is willing to drop article 3 regarding capping county retirement contributions at the 2004 rate. County propose to maintain the current 50% payout for sick leave and offers wage increases of 3% in 2004, 3% in 2005 and 2.5% in 2006. County also proposed to keep the clean up items listed in the initial proposal. Alstead reiterated the county’s proposal for verification. Alstead identified that item 4,B, which eliminated the advance pay request, could be an issue because only half of the employees in the Highway department participate in direct deposit. Alstead indicated that the proposed change in sick leave payout would not be a cost to the county initially. Alstead explained that by increasing the sick leave payout to 60% it provides an incentive to not use sick leave. Blahnik explained that the 60% sick leave payout would set precedent for future negotiations and the county would prefer to keep all three unions on the same scale. County suggest that the item be placed for consideration for the next contract period so that all unions could consider the change at the same time. County has concern that this item would cause much concern in the other unions if it were agreed to for one and not the others for the current contract period. Teamsters requested to caucass at this time. Motion by Paulson , Second by Maki to enter Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e,c) for the purpose of discussion and possible action regarding negotiation strategy with Teamsters Local 346. Roll Call Vote: all yes. Motion Carried Motion by Good, second by Paulson to return to open session. Roll Call Vote. All-Yes Motion Carried. Union returned to the table at this time. Union propose package deal. Agree to the health insurance coverage changes as agreed to by AFSCME and WPPA, agree to the county wage proposal of 3% in 2004, 3% in 2005 and 2.5% in 2006, proposed that the county continue retirement contribution at 100%, county allow advance pay upon 2 week advance request, propose sick leave payout to 60% effective 1/1/06. County requested to caucass at this time. Motion by Paulson , Second by Good to enter Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e,c) for the purpose of discussion and possible action regarding negotiation strategy with Teamsters Local 346. Roll Call Vote: all yes. Motion Carried Motion by Good, Paulson to return to open session. Roll call vote. All yes, Motion Carried. Union returned to the table at this time. County agree with health insurance, wage proposal, retirement contribution, maintain the 2-week request for advance pay, maintain 50% sick leave payout. County expressed that they are willing to negotiate with teamsters first for next contract period to address the sick leave pay-out issue. Union representatives expressed disappointment because this sick leave payout item would not be a cost to the county in the immediate future. County explained that the benefit of a 3 year contract is that health insurance will not be effected for 3 years. If county opts to offer 2 year contract, wages and health insurance would be negotiated in the third year. Health insurance is a significant benefit and that benefit alone in the third year of the contract should be a strong consideration. Teamster representatives caucassed at this time. Motion by Paulson , Second by Good to enter Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e,c) for the purpose of discussion and possible action regarding negotiation strategy with Teamsters Local 346. Roll Call Vote: all yes. Motion Carried Motion by Good, second by Paulson to return to open session. Roll Call. All yes, Motion carried. Alstead requested to speak with Abeles-Allison privately. Motion by Good , Second by Paulson to enter Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e,c) for the purpose of discussion and possible action regarding negotiation strategy with Teamsters Local 346. Roll Call Vote: all yes. Motion Carried Motion by Good, Second by Paulson to return to open session. Roll call. All Yes, Motion Carried. Union returned to the table at this time. Abeles-Allison explained that the committee gave great consideration to their request. It was communicated that Bayfield County has extended the best offer that they can at this time. Bayfield County explained that the 50% payout for sick leave is a benefit to the employees equivalent to approximately $7500. Alstead reiterated that the union representatives will bring the proposal to the union, but they will not recommend it. He explained that a mediator can recommend a proposal, but this does not mean that the union representatives have to support the mediator’s recommendation. Gordon explained that the county employees are secure in their jobs and are already receiving a very attractive benefit package. Alstead clarified the difference between a Tentative Agreement and a committee recommendation. Alstead stated that the Tentative Agreement is different from a committee recommendation. Alstead stated that the union feels that they are not getting anything, but have agreed to changes in the health insurance plan that will increase the employees out of pocket expense. Union exited the meeting to caucass at this time. Abeles-Allison reviewed the proposed Tentative Agreement. Motion by Paulson, Second by Maki to support the proposed Tentative Agreement. Roll call vote. All yes. Motion Carried. Abeles-Allison exited to print copies of the tentative agreement for all parties to sign. Brief discussion was held regarding the side-letter related to on-call pay for Health Department employees for the bio-terrorism grant. Alstead requested a letter from the County in reference to the tentative agreement and ask the union to take action. Alstead clarified that the membership will be presented with the tentative agreement, and if asked, the representatives will provide their opinion of the agreement, but that they will not actively promote the approval of the agreement. Alstead thanked the committee for their time. Union representatives exited the meeting at this time. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Proposed AFSCME Side-letters: Amelia Lindsey entered the meeting at this time to address any questions on the proposed side letter for the on-call pay for bio-terrorism grant requirement, to be paid by the grant. The grant covers a 5-year period, 2004 will be the second year. Money is received annually. Question from Maki if this will be mandated program after grant monies expire. Lindsey explained that it is unknown what will happen after the grant expires. Lindsey explained that the department would pay on-call pay only during non-working hours and that on-call pay would not be paid when the grant funds are expired. Motion by Paulson, second by Rondeau to approve the side letter for the period of time covered by the grant monies. Clarification of verbiage of the side-letter. The verbiage will be corrected to identify that the on-call pay will terminate specifically at the expiration of grant funding. Motion Carried. Abeles-Allison explained a proposed side letter, which would extend the new hire raise schedule from 6, 12 & 18 months to 18 and 36 months in exchange for the county paying the employees health insurance after one full month of employment. This side letter would be optional for new employees, not mandatory. Lindsey explained that it was very difficult to recruit a person for the Sanitarian position because of the 6 month wait for health insurance. Lindsey does not believe that the proposed side letter would have helped in this particular case. Motion by Paulson, second by Good to allow Abeles-Allison to take the proposed side letter to the union for consideration. Motion Carried. Motion by Paulson, Second by Rondeau to adjourn. Motion Carried. Meeting adjourned at 12:35pm.