11-13-1984 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Opinion &nd Award Page 5 Rationale: a. Comparables At the arbitration a major point of contention was what comparables should the arbitrator use in determining the 1984 wage rate. The Union proposed those areas immediately around the Lake Minnetonka area with full-time police departments which were also part of the Stanton Group v1 Cities, that is suburban cities under 10,000. Those seven Stanton Group VI Cities are Mo:jnd, South Lake, Medina, West Hennepin, Wayzata, Deep Haven, and Minnetrista. Further, the Union suggests that since Minnetrista was recently unionized the salary level is necessarily low. The average 1984 top patrol wages for those seven communities is $2,309.00 per month. The average without Minnetrista is $2,332.00 per month. The Union argues that Orono has not made an in- ability to pay argument and in fact has the financial wealth available to pay a 7 percent increase or $2,360.00 per month. The Union contends that the 1984 Orono budget has already allotted a 7.5 percent increase for police salaries even though the Union is only asking for 7 percent. The supervisory police personnel have already received a 5 percent wage increase for 1984. The City of Orono strongly argues that the arbi- trator should not accept the Union's selected seven cities from the Stanton Group VI Survey. Rather, the City urges the arbitra- tor to use the entire Stanton Group VI Cities with full-time police departments average. When that is done, the average 1984 top patrol wage rate is $2,225.00 per month.