The City of Eden Prairie has approximately 270 fulltime regular authorized budgeted employee positions. At any one time we could have a few more than that, or more likely, a few less, but that’s a solid estimate of our average number. Of that total, about 60 of them are reresented by a single union. That union is Local 49 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
The City employees who are represented by Local 49 include the employees who maintain our fleet of vehicles; treat your water; keep our water distribution system in working order; maintain streets; plow snow; maintain ice rinks; mow parks; repair traffic signals; and all the other things that keep the city working. On a daily basis, you’ll notice their work much more than you’ll ever notice mine…but that’s a story for another day.
The City negotiates a collective bargaining agreement with Local 49 to cover the terms of employment with these workers. We are currently in the middle of a two year contract. The contract covers topics such as wages, working conditions, fringe benefits, etc.
The City and Local 49 have an active Labor-Management Committee (LMC) here in Eden Prairie. The LMC meets once each month to discuss matters of mutual concern. There are equal numbers of Local 49 and City management members on the LMC. There are a total of six representatives from each side that attend these meetings. It is chaired by a two person team; one management, one labor.
At the LMC meetings, the union itself is represented by Local 49 business agent, Mr. Todd Doncavage. I am the chief representative of the City, but I typically take a low key role in the meetings. I don’t want to spoil the cooperative nature of the meeting by trying to run it myself. The chairs always do a good job of running the meeting and insuring that everyone who wants to participate has that opporunity.
Mr. Doncavage, and his predecessor Mr. Jim Hansen, represent their union very professionally and honorably. They are constructive problem-solvers. They want their members to work hard, and in turn, to be respected by their employers and paid a fair wage. I know our 49ers work hard. I hope they feel respected and paid fairly by the City.
There is an excellent article in today’s Star Tribune business section by David Phelps entitled “A union for health: Local 49 steers members to short list of providers”. It describes a new health care initiative that Local 49 is participating in called the Labor-Management Health Care Coalition of the Upper Midwest. It’s more press- friendly name is the “Smart Buy Alliance“. The initiative, according to the story, is part of a larger health care cost control initiative launched by Governor Pawlenty last November. It’s a good story of how the union is taking on one of the biggest issues of our times: uncontrollable health care costs.
The City benefits through its positive working relationship with Local 49. Good labor relations translate into good working conditions for labor and a good financial deal for our taxpayers.
