HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 02-02 Suburban public works union to decide on strike DISPATCH Suburban
•
works union
• •
to decide on strike
Public works employes in 21 about 1960 when the two communi-
suburban communities will vote at ties failed to implement recom-
8 p.m. today on strike authoriza- mendations of adjustment panels,
tion and the setting of a strike according to Charles Swenson,
date at a meeting in the Operating director of Local 49's public em-
Engineers Local 49 hall,2580 Uni- ploye division.
versity Ave. G. STEVENS BERNARD, city
About 500 municipal employes manager of White Bear Lake and
are covered by the negotiations chairman of the MAMA negotiat-
between the Metropolitan Area ing committee, said the commit-
Manager Association (MAMA) tee members are opposed to sub-
and Local 49. m'tting the remaining issues to
arbitration.
Communities involved in the ne- "We feel pretty strongly that
gotiations are White Bear Lake, city councils should not give up
Roseville,• Maplewood, Brooklyn their right to make decisions
Center, Brooklyn Park, Burns about the operations of their cit-
hille, Circle Pines, Columbia les,"Bernard said.
Heights, Crystal, Edina, Fridley,
Golden Valley, Hopkins, Minne- Bernard said his committee of-
tonka, Mounds View, New Brigh- fered a wage increase that aver-
ton, New Hope, Richfield, Rob- ages out to 7.4 per cent for the
binsdale, St. Anthony and St. first year and a formula for the
Louis Park. second and third years based on
the cost of living. He added that
LOCAL 49 will be legally free to the union is asking a wage in-
strike Saturday if there is no set- crease in excess of 12 per cent for
tlement by then and if the MAMA the first year.
organization declines arbitration SWENSON SAID Local 49 has
of the four unresolved issues — settled its contract negotiations
wages, length of contract, vaca- separately with Hastings, Cottage
tion policy and pay for working Grove, Woodbury, Stillwater, Ma-
out of classification. ple Grove, Plymouth, Minnetrista
Negotiators for Local; 49 and and Newport. He added that con-
MAMA will return to the bargain tract disputes are still unresolved
ing table at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the with Oakdale, Eden Prairie,
offices of the state Bureau of Me- Spring Lake Park, Blaine and
diation Services. Forest Lake.
Current pay in the 21 MAMA
If the strike occurs, it would be communities is $990 a month for
the first by the local against the light equipment operators and
MAMA communities. However, $1,065 per month for heavy equip-
Local 49 did banner in New Brigh- ment operators, according to Ber-
ton in the late 1960s and in Cry tal hard.