11-13-1984 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Opinion and Award Page 6 "Comparables" are often a major point of conten- tion in contract arbitration. The arbitrator accepts the City's contention that the entire Stanton Group VI Cities with full-time police officers should be considered. However, in using that comparable it must also be recognized that there is a wide range of variance within the Stanton Group VI. For example, the City of Mound (a Stanton Group VI City) has already settled for a 1984 monthly wage rate of $2,390.00. Whereas, the City of St. Francis (also a Stanton Group VI City with a full-time police department) has settled for a 1984 monthly wage rate of $1,560.00. As can be seen from these two examples, the wage rate within the Stanton Group VI Cities varies considerably. When considering the entire Stanton Group VI range, the placement within that range must also be taken into consideration. Orono has historically been one of t,:e high paying police departments within the Stanton Group VI Survey. In 1983, it ranked 6 out of 31 Stanton Group VI Cities with full-time police departments. The City's offer to raise the salaries from $2,204.80 in 198? to $2,225.00 (the average Stanton Group VI •�• salary) means an increase of slightly less than 1 percent for its officers. Such an increase is inadequate taking into account such things as inflation, Orono's historical ranking within Stanton Group VI, and the wealth of the community. The award of $2,309.00 per month will bring the Orono police officers from a rank of 6 within the Stanton Group VI Cities to a rank of 13. b. The Cmparable Worth Act During the arbitration the City argued that the Minnesota Comparable Worth Act requires the City to begin think-