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Commission approves two letters of understanding to combine electrical maintenance and instrumentation workgroups after safety negotiations
Summary
After multiple employee meetings, commissioners approved two letters of understanding that combine electrical maintenance and instrumentation workgroups; one vote drew two opposing commissioners who cited unresolved standby concerns for instrumentation staff.
The Hibbing Public Utilities Commission approved two letters of understanding (LOUs) on Jan. 21 that combine the electrical maintenance and instrumentation workgroups and set cross-training and pay provisions under the collective bargaining contract.
Human resources manager Stephanie Dickinson and Rich Kamslah, president of Local 94, told the commission they had met repeatedly with affected employees and worked to address safety questions related to cross-training. "The first letter of understanding just deals with the safety aspect of cross training, the existing employees, just to help them out, learn one side or the other throughout this transition," Kamslah said. Dickinson said the LOUs include competency lists and safety committee oversight and stressed multiple meetings with employees and supervisors.
Commission discussion focused on an existing standby requirement that has, at times, left a single instrumentation employee covering on-call duties. Commissioners asked how many qualified staff were available and whether the standby burden would remain. Staff said the utility currently has two journeyman licensed electricians and two instrumentation employees, although one instrumentation employee is on leave; the LOUs include processes to address training, supervisor review, and safety committee input if employees raise concerns.
The commission voted to approve Letter of Understanding 02/2001 (motion by Commissioner Bayless; seconded as recorded). Roll-call votes were: Commissioner Bayless — in favor; Commissioner Babich — opposed; Chair Hart — in favor; Commissioner Sandstedt — in favor; Commissioner Stokes — opposed. The motion carried. The second letter of understanding, 02/2002, was approved subsequently (motion by Commissioner Bayless, support by Commissioner Stokes) and carried by voice vote.
Commissioners said the general manager's absence during the presentation limited their ability to ask some questions; one commissioner reiterated a continuing concern that a single instrumentation standby assignment had created work-life balance issues during the prior nine months. Staff said they plan to use competency lists and the safety committee to confirm cross-training and to involve supervisors in resolving employee objections during rollout.
The LOUs will be added to the contract with appropriate wages and will be implemented with supervisor oversight and safety-committee confirmation of competency.
