3.e Discussion on temporary change in Public Wroks employee work schedule
To: Mayor, City council
From: Adam Hawkinson, Director of Public Works
Date: May 1st, 2019
Re: Staff Shift Change – Straight 8 hour days
Background:
The union staff of the City of Scandia has current work hours of 7 am to 3:30 pm to make
up an eight-hour work day. The union staff has break times of 7am -7:15am for morning
break, lunch break is – 12 noon to 12:45 pm which includes their afternoon break, and then
they finish out the day at 3:30 pm. The City has formed a Labor management committee
with the union staff and the work week hours became one of the topics. Both union staff
and management have agreed by consensus to try the new hours for the trial period
identified below.
Issue:
Staff is asking City Council to approve a shift change for public works staff on a trial basis
from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2019. The new work shift would start at 7 am and end at
3 pm using the two mandatory 15 minute breaks combined for a half-hour lunch break
from 11 am to 11:30 am. Monday thru Friday. Staff will be paid for this lunch break such
that the total working hours from 7:00 am- 3:00pm will be 8 hours.
Proposal:
Public works has a policy that allows the staff to come in for lunch from out in the field if
they leave the work site at noon and are back on the work site by the end of break. The
union business agent and management agree that by adopting a straight 8 hour work day,
staff would not have enough time to leave the work site and come back to the shop for
break. Staff would need to be prepared to take lunches in the field. Some cost savings and
efficiency the City could see from the change would be eliminating travel time, staff
accomplishing more in the eight-hour shift, and fuel cost savings. Management would
follow the same shift as the Union staff. The change would require an amendment to the
union contract and a resolution from the City Council.
Fiscal Impact:
Management can’t anticipate a financial impact at this time.
Options:
1. Accept the proposal and the memorandum of understanding
2. Accept the proposal with council modifications
3. Don’t approve
Recommendation:
Option #1
Memorandum of Understanding
Between
City of Scandia and
International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No. 49
Upon request from the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No. 49 (the “Union”),
the City of Scandia (the “City”) and the Union hereby agree that the Collective Bargaining
Agreement will be modified on a temporary basis as follows, pending City Council approval:
ARTICLE IX- WORK SCHEDULES
9.1 The sole authority to create and/or modify work schedules is vested with the EMPLOYER.
The normal work day for an Employee shall be eight (8) hours, the normal hours of
operation will be 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. The normal work week shall be forty (40) hours
Monday through Friday.
On a temporary basis, from Memorial Day, 2019 through Labor Day, 2019, the following
schedule will be followed in lieu of the schedule identified above: the normal hours of
operation will be 7:00 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m. Instead of taking a morning break of 15
minutes and a 45 minute lunch (which included the afternoon break), and for the express
purpose for employees to leave earlier in the day, the City and the Union agree that
employees only break will be one 30 minute paid lunch from 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
By adopting this straight 8 hour work day, field staff will not have enough time to leave
the work site and come back to the shop for a break. As such, staff will be prepared to
take lunches in the field.
On Tuesday, September 3, 2019, this Memorandum of Understanding will become null
and void without further agreement and the hours of operation will resort back to 7:00
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a 15 minute morning lunch and a 45 minute lunch break.
9.2 Service to the public may require the establishment of regular shifts for Employees on a
daily, weekly, seasonal, or annual basis other than the normal 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. work
shift. Service to the public may require the establishment of regular work weeks that
schedule work on Saturdays and/or Sundays. The EMPLOYER shall give seventy two hours
(72) advance notice to the Employees affected by the establishment of work days
different from the Employee’s normal eight (8) hour work day.
9.3 In the event that work is required because of unusual circumstances such as (but not
limited to) fire, flood, snow, sleet, tree removal from roadways, breakdown of municipal
equipment for facilities or equipment failure in the wastewater system, no advance notice
need be given as required in section 9.2. It is not required that an Employee working other
than the normal work day be scheduled to work more than eight (8) hours; however, each
Employee has an obligation to work overtime or call backs if requested unless unusual
circumstances prevent him/her from so working.
The parties agree that this Memorandum of Understanding modifying Article 9.1 does not now
or in the future limit the City’s rights pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement to modify
schedules pursuant to Article 9.2 and Article 9.3.
The parties also agree that this Memorandum of Understanding is subject to approval by the
Scandia City Council. Should the City Council fail to approve the content of this Memorandum,
this Memorandum shall be null and void.
______________________________ _______________________________
Neil Soltis, City Administrator Cory Bergerson, Area Business Representative
Date: _________________________ Date: _________________________