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Opinion ..nd Award <br />Page 3 <br />Rationale: This type of fringe benefit is generally ac- <br />cepted by arbitrators, employers and unions as one which is <br />properly standardized internally within the employee groups <br />involved with the same'employer. Such standardization enables• <br />the employer to provide better coverage to a large number of <br />people for less money. <br />II. UNIFORM ALLOWANCE <br />Union Position: Increased to $375.00 per month from the <br />previous $300.00 per month. <br />City Position: The City will provide all City -required d•�-e <br />uniform articles and equipment. j 7- <br />Award: The position of the City is accepted. <br />Rationale: The arbitrator recognizes that this is a major <br />and significant change in the method of providing uniforms for <br />police personnel in the City of Orono. The union makes a very <br />strong argument that the City voluntarily placed the uniform <br />allowance into the collective bargaining agreement. Conse- <br />quently, it urges the arbitrator not to permit the City the <br />"right to yank it out whenever it so chooses after the expiration <br />of an Agreement." Further, the union contends that to accept the <br />City's position would raise so many questicr.. -the answers to <br />which the City does not have --that past tradition should be <br />continued to avoid problems. <br />However, the City convincingly argues that the issue of "an <br />allowance versus ■ city's or county's right to provide any and <br />all uniform articles and equipment" has been answered in a number <br />