By Michael Howell
After some long lasting negotiations, the Ravalli County Commissioners and representatives of the Laborer’s International Union Local #1686 which represents the county’s Road Department, have finally come to a tentative agreement for a two-year contract covering 2016 and 2017. The agreement calls for a 1% cost of living increase for 2016 retroactively applied and a cost of living increase for the 2017 FY that would equal what the county gives to its other employees in the 2017 budget. The contract also sets a 1% increase in longevity pay. In order to secure the deal, the county backed off on its attempt to make some changes in the grievance procedure.
Deputy County Attorney Howard Recht explained that the county’s proposed changes to the grievance process had two objectives. The first was to make it clear that the official record involved in the process needed to be established at the Board of County Commissioners’ meeting “so that the situation did not occur where the commissioners were basing their decision on incomplete information and then a request for arbitration is made and different information is presented than was presented before the commissioners.”
Secondly, he said, the changes were meant to make it clear what standard of review applies to the arbitrator. Recht said it clarifies that the procedure followed by the commissioners is the standard semi-judicial process and the decisions made should be judged based only on the evidence presented to them.
Matt Thiel, attorney for the bargaining unit, argued that the situation is not the same. He said the collective bargaining unit waives its right to go to court, where, upon good showing, new evidence can be admitted. He said not giving the bargaining unit this opportunity with the arbitrator would be a denial of due process.
Commissioner Jeff Burrows said that he felt that the negotiations had gone on for far too long and he was ready to drop the issue about the grievance process and accept the contract without those changes.
“I think it’s something we can concede and move on with the process,” said Burrows.
Although Commissioner Greg Chilcott expressed some reluctance, he and the other commissioners all agreed. The Bargaining Unit caucused and came back expressing agreement as well. Human Resources Director Robert Jenni will draw up the final contract based on the agreement reached that day for final approval by both parties.