IBEW Local 949 Asks for Parity

Union Picketers Hit Crosslake

By Paul Boblett, Editor

Union employees from the Crosslake Communications and Union members from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 949 held signs outside City Hall and Crosslake Communications last week to bring attention to the fact that they are still without a labor contract with the City.

The signs held by the union demonstrators stated that the city is treating the workers unfairly. The City of Crosslake employs eight union workers at Crosslake Communications whose wages range from $18.54 per hour to $27.33 per hour.

City Administrator Tom Swenson said that a State of Minnesota mediator is currently handling negotiations between the union and the city, and both sides are still talking.

Swenson said that two meetings between the union and City were held to negotiate a contract, but after the second meeting the union requested mediation because the two sides were too far apart.

The City released a written statement that stated, “We have good employees and we appreciate their right to collectively bargain. We have bargained in good faith, however we believe that bargaining should occur at the bargaining table not in the media. As such we are not going to comment on the proposals which have been exchanged in bargaining.”

“We do believe, however, that our customers and the taxpayers of Crosslake should have accurate facts about our company. We have one of the best, and most costly, wage and benefit packages in the area among comparable employers. We have wage and benefit surveys to document that. During the last labor contract, the wages of our employees increased over 9 percent and the cost of our health insurance benefit has increased 47.54 percent over that same period.”

“If we are irresponsible at the bargaining table, the burden falls on our customers and the taxpayers. The downturn in the economy is affecting Crosslake Communications.”

Swenson said, “In 2009 our homestead tax credit will be reduced by around $33,000 and again in 2010. The phone company is seeing reduced access lines - many people are doing away with the frills. There are probably people that will keep their cell phones and not reconnect their landline when they come up.”

“The economy is having an impact on the company,” said Swenson.

“In December of 2008, the City reduced the management wages by $1,000 for 2009 and all other non union department heads were reduced by $500,” added Swenson. “The City took action immediately with the non union non contract people when we saw this coming and the City and phone company are making every effort with the department heads to reduce wherever we can.”

Rick Oakes is the business manager for Local 949. He was outside City Hall on Monday afternoon and stated, “ We’re here for an informational picket to represent the employees of Crosslake Communications who have still not gotten a contract in place. The only thing we’re looking for is to be treated fairly.”

When asked what is fair, Oakes replied, “To be treated like the non union folks that work here.”

Oakes stated, “In January non union employees received on average, over a of three percent wage increase and they pay nothing for their health insurance. We’re looking for equity.”

IBEW 949 Representative Vince Guerton of Nicollet County was in front of Crosslake Communications last Monday with Ron Schmidt and Bill Gordon, both long time employees of Crosslake Communications.

Gordon said, “If they treated their non union workers like they want to treat us, they would not have a shortfall in their budget. You can see how they treat their non union employees, and if its good enough for them why isn’t it good enough for us?”

The City’s prepared statement closed by saying, “We have to be concerned about how local government will be affected as the legislature deals with the huge projected budget shortfall, and the bills in the legislature to freeze public employee wages dictate caution. The City of Crosslake has already suffered substantial cutbacks in State Aid and in response, the council has cut the budgeted salaries of City managers, but we are not proposing a wage cut or freeze for our employees. We expect the State mediator to convene another meeting, as he deems appropriate.”

Both sides are waiting to hear from the mediator as to when the next meeting will be held.