Ortonville- After nearly two years of negotiations, a labor contract has been ratified by the village and Teamsters Local 214 representing the Ortonville Department of Public Works.
The village council unanimously approved the ratification at their Aug. 28 meeting after a closed session with their attorney, Rick Fanning.
Village Manager Ed Coy described himself as ‘ambivalent,? regarding the ratification of the contract, on which negotiations began in 2004, and which has cost the village nearly $30,000 in attorney’s fees.
‘It’s one more thing checked off the list of things to do,? said Coy.
The contract took longer than normal to negotiate because both the village and the union members were new to the process, explained Coy.
Local 214 Trustee Les Barrett said it is normal for first contracts to take longer because the language must be written cover to cover.
However, most of the contract mirrors what was already in place between the village and the DPW workers, says Barrett, adding that changes include a grievance procedure, the addition of dental and optical benefits and higher wages.
‘We are very satisfied with the results of the negotiations and mediation,? said Barrett.
It remains to be seen what will happen with an unfair labor practice charge the Teamsters filed against the village after the council rejected by a 4-3 vote to ratify the contract at their Aug. 14 meeting.
The one-page document filed by the Teamsters charged the village with an intentionally designed plan to avoid its bargaining obligation and the agreed upon collective bargaining agreement. In addition, the union charged the village with eroding the collective bargaining agreement as well as the party’s bargaining representative status.
‘I’m hoping we will resolve the unfair labor practice charge,? said Barrett. ‘It depends on how the village’s retro activity will impact the (current DPW workers) and the employee who left.?
Barrett explains the retro activity to which he refers involves back pay to current DPW Supervisor Bill Prince and employee Kevin Booms, as well as former worker Dan Hackman, who recently resigned.