Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel And Labor topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hibbing utility commission approves posting for two biomass technician trainees; union says it has not yet been consulted on job changes
Summary
The commission approved internal and external recruitment for two trainee biomass technician positions and accepted revised job-description language (switching to 8-hour days and requiring new hires to obtain certain licenses within a probationary period). A union representative said management had not yet discussed the revisions with the union.
The Hibbing Public Utilities Commission on Sept. 23 approved posting and external advertisement for two biomass technician trainee positions and accepted changes to the job description intended to support operational staffing needs.
Kendra Powers, recently hired senior director of human resources and organizational development, told commissioners the positions will be posted internally and externally "in case we don't have internal candidates" and to speed hiring. Powers summarized job-description edits discussed with plant management, including shifting scheduled hours from 12-hour shifts to 8-hour days and requiring trainees to "actively pursue" necessary certifications and a commercial driver's license within an initial period rather than requiring those credentials at hire.
Commissioners asked whether the changes had been vetted with the union. George Bogochnik, a line crew representative in the meeting, said management had not discussed the revisions with the union and that the union would raise the changes at its meeting on Thursday. He noted the union expects to discuss the number of needed positions and the timeline for training; he also said some certification timelines (such as Class B with air brake endorsements) can take longer than six months.
The motion to approve the posting was made by Commissioner Stokes with support from Commissioner Babich; the motion carried. Staff said they would follow up with the union as needed and could bring changes back to the commission if bargaining or further vetting requires it.
The commission approved the posting as part of routine workforce replenishment that management said is necessary "when we have progression through the ranks" to maintain the firing line.
