Pending a judge’s sign-off, the Wrangell Borough and its public employees union are abandoning the courtroom for the negotiating table, after a productive settlement conference held last week in Ketchikan.
The city and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547 have been at odds over renewing a collective bargaining agreement, which for 24 public employees expired the end of June 2014. Mediation undertaken through the spring of 2015 did not resolve the dispute, and by that summer legal representation became involved. Efforts to arbitrate led to a disagreement over its terms and scheduling, leading the city to file to enjoin the arbitration hearing on September 28.
Superior Court Judge Trevor Stephens was assigned to hear the ensuing litigation process. IBEW followed the city’s suit with a motion to compel arbitration, which was denied. The union also filed an unfair labor practice charge with the state Labor Relations Agency over the stalled negotiations. A trial date was eventually set for July 2017 following a successful appeal on the part of CBW to postpone by three months, in order to prepare its case.
Ahead of that course, last week’s settlement conference gave both sides the opportunity to meet with a judge before trial to try settling out of court. Judge William Carey of the Ketchikan Superior Court was appointed to head the conference on December 6, and met with representatives from IBEW and CBW for a lengthy discussion on December 20.
“Judge Carey was able to kind of work with both sides there, and come to an agreement,” explained Jeff Jabusch, CBW manager. “We’re moving on from that and we’ll start back at the negotiating table.”
An order granting dismissal of the case was signed by representatives of both parties the next day and filed December 22. It awaits the signature of Stephens before it takes effect, which is expected by next week at the latest.
Per the order, all claims and counterclaims that could have been brought by the union, the city and proposed arbitrator would be dismissed permanently. As part of the agreement, all parties would bear their own costs and legal fees.
“We both wanted to move on from where we were at. Certainly that saves the tax- and rate-payer money,” Jabusch noted.
In courtroom comments, Stephens had noted “CBW and IBEW (were) poised to proceed with potentially lengthy and expensive litigation.”
Negotiations are set to resume in Wrangell during the second week of January, which will involve city staff, union administrators and employee representatives.
“We’re basically resetting the clock,” said Jay Rhodes, the IBEW local’s assistant business manager. “We’re looking forward to getting back to the table to negotiate a settlement that’s acceptable to our members.”
Any agreement they may arrive at will need to be approved both by employees represented by the Local 1547 and the Borough Assembly to take effect. If either body votes against it, both parties would need to return to the table to iron out the terms.
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