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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Adopting Supplemental Policies for Certain Electric Distribution and Technical Services Division Employees RESOLUTION NO. 23-320 RESOLUTION ADOPTING SUPPLEMENTAL POLICIES FOR CERTAIN CITY OF AMES ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION AND TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION EMPLOYEES FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA WHEREAS, labor unions represent a majority of the City's regular workforce. Each group has a collective bargaining agreement, which addresses topics including pay, leaves, discipline, holidays, overtime, safety, and other employment conditions. In instances where the collective bargaining is silent regarding a topic, the City's Employee Handbook and related policies apply. The Employee Handbook and related policies are not collectively bargained, but rather are approved by the City Council; and, WHEREAS, in 2017, the Iowa Legislature modified Chapter 20 of the Iowa Code, which governs the collective bargaining process for public sector employees. One of the most significant changes was to require that prior to bargaining each successor agreement, the state must conduct a retention and recertification election among the employees who are subject to the agreement. If a majority (50%+1) of the employees subject to the agreement vote "yes," then the union is certified as the exclusive bargaining representative. If less than a majority votes "yes" (i.e., they instead vote"no" or fail to vote), then the union is decertified; and, WHEREAS, a total of 21 positions in the Electric Distribution and Technical Services divisions of Electric Services have been represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local No. 55, since 1975. The latest contract with this union was set to expire on June 30, 2023. Therefore, the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) held a retention and recertification election for the employees in this unit,along with 176 other bargaining units across the state with expiring contracts. The election was conducted by PERB from October 11-25, 2022; and, WHEREAS, the election resulted in seven "yes" votes to recertify, short of the 10 needed to authorize IBEW as the unit's ongoing bargaining representation. On November 4, 2022, the collective bargaining agreement in effect at the time became invalid; and, WHEREAS, the City Council adopted a set of temporary special employment policies for the employees formerly subject to the agreement. This temporary policy contained limited modifications from the previous contract (primarily revised to remove references to the union's involvement in policy matters); and, WHEREAS, adopting the temporary policy provided staff time to analyze the policies in detail and determine a recommended long-term replacement policy for these employees. Staff has now completed this review and prepared a "Supplemental Employment Policies" document. This document, as compared to the temporary policies, eliminates a significant number of provisions that are duplicated in the existing Employee Handbook,which applies to the entire City workforce (e.g., breaks, holidays, vacation, sick leave, emergency leave, funeral leave,jury leave, longevity pay, employment of relatives, etc.). The remaining sections were reorganized into six sections and additional modifications were made to clarify the meaning of certain provisions. Wages for the affected positions will be approved as part of the adoption of the City Pay Plan in May or June each year. WHEREAS, management staff provided copies of the draft proposal to the affected employees and met with the whole workgroup in May to discuss the changes and receive feedback. Several provisions were modified based on the feedback, and the final draft is now presented for City Council approval. Upon adoption, the previously adopted"Temporary Special Policies"will be rescinded. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the Supplemental Employment Policies for Certain City of Ames Electric Distribution and Technical Services Division Employees is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 131h day of June, 2023. Renee kall, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Corrieri Seconded by: Rollins Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Rollins Voting nay: None Absent: Junck Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 13th day of June, 2023.