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Council puts water-plant shift-bidding work rule on Jan. 5 consent agenda after staff clarification
Summary
Staff formalized a written work rule saying water-plant seniority — not city-wide seniority — governs shift bidding at the water plant; the council voted to place the rule on the Jan. 5 consent agenda.
The Macomb City Council Committee agreed to place a formal work rule on the Jan. 5, 2026 consent agenda that clarifies how shift bidding and bumping will be handled at the municipal water treatment plant.
Alice Ortman, the city’s public works director, explained the city had not previously adopted a written rule even though a typed notice was posted at the plant. She said the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) required a written work rule for shift bidding at the water plant and that staff converted the posted note into an official work rule to fulfill that requirement. "For the purposes of shift bidding and bumping, it is seniority at the water plant that governs not city overall city, seniority," Ortman said.
Council discussion focused on whether to place the item on the consent agenda. After a motion and second, members voted "aye" and the motion carried; the rule will be included on the Jan. 5 consent agenda and then sent to the union with the required 10 days' written notice once approved.
Ortman said the rule applies only to the water plant because it is the only 24-hour operation in public works and explained staff will obtain signatures and send the adopted work rule to the union as required under the CBA.
