Council to consider ballot question on binding arbitration for Page union; staff asked to convene expert briefing

Councilor Brett Boston told the Pueblo City Council Monday that members of the Page employee union asked him to pursue a charter amendment changing their dispute-resolution process from advisory arbitration to binding arbitration, aligning Page with the city’s police and fire bargaining protocol.

Boston said Page workers perform essential city functions and many asked him to bring the question to the council so voters can decide. The change would require a charter amendment because the charter currently lists Page under advisory arbitration rather than binding arbitration.

Several councilors said they wanted more information before placing a charter change on the ballot. Councilor Sarah Martinez and others recommended a work session with Bob Jagger, identified by council as the subject-matter expert on municipal labor and arbitration, to explain the legal and operational consequences of moving to binding arbitration. Councilors also discussed whether attorney-client or negotiation-sensitive material would require an executive session; staff said an open work session would likely suffice for general background, but negotiators could request closed sessions for bargaining-specific privileged matters.

Council President Aleph said the question should ultimately be put to voters if council chooses to place a charter amendment on a ballot. City staff set a timetable reminder: charter amendments must be finalized in time to meet the fall ballot deadline, meaning drafts should be ready by early August.

No charter amendment was finalized Monday. Council members asked staff to schedule a work-session briefing with labor experts and to determine whether additional legal review or executive-session discussion is needed before any ballot referral.