Hibbing PUC abolishes instrumentation department; union grievance expected

The Hibbing Public Utilities Commission voted July 15 to abolish the instrumentation department after staff said employees had been reassigned to other department roles.

Commissioner Stokes moved to abolish the department; Commissioner Hart supported the motion and the commission approved the action. During discussion an employee identified in the meeting as George said an individual from the instrumentation department had been denied an award of a posted instrumentation-electrician position despite having applied and being qualified. George said a grievance process had begun and predicted the matter would move to a later grievance step.

General Manager Luke Peterson described the reassignment as a temporary transfer under the collective-bargaining agreement and said the transfer would run through August under the contract’s temporary-transfer provisions. Peterson said that if the temporary transfer ends without further agreement the employee would have contractual bumping rights to choose a position within the utility.

Commissioners and staff agreed the abolishment requires formal action because, as described by counsel in the meeting, the commission would otherwise maintain an empty department shell. The motion recorded in the meeting carried; the transcript records one vote opposed but does not identify the member by name.

Peterson said staff will work with the union on timelines and protections and noted a 7‑day response window to a letter received that the meeting referenced. The commission took no additional action at the meeting beyond abolishing the department; management and union representatives indicated follow-up through the grievance procedure and possible further negotiations will occur.