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City takes legal action against Police Association |
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The city of Caledonia approved a motion to initiate court action against a labor grievance filed by the Caledonia Police Association. During a special meeting on Feb. 4, the council met behind closed doors to discuss what legal direction the city should take, concerning the grievance. After conversing with City Attorney Tim Murphy, the council opened the meeting and approved a motion to initiate court action.
The city will be asking the court to determine if the current labor agreement between the Police Association and the city precludes the Police Association from filing a grievance against the city and also to restrain the Police Association from arbitrating the current grievance against the city, along with such other relief as the court may deem just and equitable together with costs and disbursements.
The grievance filed by the Police Association stems from Officer Jim Stemper being promoted to the rank of sergeant by Chief Randy Shefelbine, and the city council determining the promotion was not in the realm of what Shefelbine could actually do.
The city will be including a paragraph from the labor agreement under the “inherent managerial policy” heading which states:
“The Association recognizes that the city is not required to meet and negotiate on the matters of inherent managerial policy. Matters of inherent managerial policy include, but are not limited to, such areas of discretion or policy as the functions and program of the employer, its overall budget, utilization of technology, the organizational structure, selection, direction and number of personnel.”
The matter is now in the hands of the court.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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