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Commission approves two labor agreements covering city crafts and public-safety communications staff
Summary
The commission approved two collective bargaining agreements: a two-year contract with the City of Great Falls Public Employees Crafts Council (116 employees) that includes wage increases, a shift to an 80/20 health-insurance split and new drug-testing provisions; and a two-year agreement with MFPE Local 8541 for public-safety communications officers.
The City Commission approved two collective bargaining agreements at the July 15 meeting.
Gay McInerney, HR director, summarized the Crafts Council agreement covering 116 employees across administration, library, parks and recreation and public works. Key terms include a two-year contract (07/01/2025–06/30/2027); targeted wage adjustments between 2% and 7% informed by a market wage study; a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and a 1% health-insurance adjustment; a move to an 80/20 city/employee health-insurance cost share; and a new Article 36 (Alcohol and Controlled Substances) establishing that employees may not be impaired while on duty and making Crafts Council members subject to random drug testing. The wage impact was estimated at approximately $1,115,140 over the two-year term.
The commission also approved the Montana Federation of Public Employees (MFPE) contract for Public Safety Communications Officers (Local 8541), covering 11 employees, with similar health-insurance cost-share changes and wage adjustments (including a 5% market adjustment and a 3% COLA, plus 1% for health insurance each year), and an estimated wage impact of about $139,000 over two years. Commissioners praised the essential work of public-safety communications staff and noted the difficulty of recruitment and retention for these roles.
Both motions passed by voice vote; no public opposition was recorded during the meeting.
