Marshall Council approves labor agreement and wastewater pilot MOA with AFSCME Council 65

The Marshall City Council approved a ratified labor agreement with AFSCME Council 65 and a related memorandum of agreement that includes a pilot program for wastewater-plant certifications.

Sheila Dubs, the city’s human resources director, summarized contract updates and said the union ratified the agreement; council approval was required to finalize it. Changes include housekeeping updates, market adjustments to pay steps timed to the pay period that includes Jan. 1 for each contract year, and added language addressing earned safe and sick time documentation and staffing for emergencies.

Dubs said a clause was added to Article 22 to address the state’s paid family and medical leave law: the employer and employee will split the premium 50–50 with the employee share deducted through payroll. The memorandum of agreement establishes a pilot program at the wastewater facility to incentivize staff to obtain MPCA job-related certifications; the pilot will expire when a successor contract begins.

Council Member Craig moved approval; Council Member Amanda seconded. The motion passed on a council vote recorded after a closed-session mediation update. The union had ratified the agreement after mediation earlier in the year, the HR director said.

Next steps: the city will implement contract terms as described and administer the wastewater pilot per the MOA. The MOA and contract language were presented as finalized items requiring council resolution.

Sources: Human Resources presentation at the council meeting (Sheila Dubs) and council vote recorded during the meeting.