Monona committee approves MOU with Firefighters Local 311 setting involuntary overtime rules

The Committee of the City of Monona on Aug. 4 approved Resolution 25-8-2819, authorizing a memorandum of understanding with Firefighters Local 311 to formalize procedures for mandatory (involuntary) overtime coverage. Fire Chief said the agreement uses reverse seniority to assign forced shifts, allows a single pass per rotation, and provides double time if a firefighter is ordered to work with less than 24 hours’ notice.

The move matters because it creates a predictable process for filling shifts that do not meet minimum staffing levels. The chief said the MOU follows policies used by other agencies around Dane County and was reviewed by the city attorney’s office before the committee approved it.

The fire chief told the committee that “this is solely regarding mandatory overtime or involuntary overtime,” and described how the department first offers open shifts to LTEs and full‑time staff. He said the MOU is intended for situations when no one is available to volunteer. “We agreed that we’ll do our best to give them a minimum of two weeks’ notice if it’s going to be a mandatory overtime,” the chief said, “but that’s predicated on what’s possible because it’s not always possible.”

Under the MOU, the newest employee is first in line to be assigned mandatory shifts (reverse seniority). Employees may take one pass when their turn comes; the pass keeps them at the top of the rotation but the assignment moves to the next person. The chief told the committee there are nine full‑time positions covered by the provision and that the union steward reviewed the draft with management. He also said that attorney Kohl’s office added clarifying language during legal review.

On incentives and enforcement, the memorandum provides double time for forced overtime with less than 24 hours’ notice. The chief said the department has not had any incidents requiring less‑than‑24‑hour forced overtime during his five years in the role, but that double pay would be used when such short notice is necessary. Committee members asked about employees who repeatedly refuse to comply; the chief said refusal after using an allowed pass would be addressed through the contract’s disciplinary process, characterizing persistent refusal as insubordination.

Mayor Moore and committee members then moved and seconded approval of the resolution; the committee voted in favor. Committee members and the chief characterized the MOU as closely modeled on neighboring agencies’ practices and said they expected few implementation problems.

The approved resolution was identified in the meeting as 25-8-2819 and the MOU had been discussed with the department’s full‑time staff and the union prior to the committee vote. The city did not provide a copy of the final signed MOU during the meeting.