GT board extends offers

Sept. 22--TRAVERSE CITY -- Grand Traverse County commissioners approved offers they hope will put to bed a long-running dispute with four sheriff's department unions over health insurance costs.

They also signed off Wednesday night on a settlement agreement to have a Teamsters unit representing sheriff's lieutenants and captains withdraw a related grievance. The other union offers, if accepted, would end a county appeal on a labor relations court decision.

"We'll see if they take it," said commission Chairwoman Carol Crawford.

Acceptance could depend on how a state law allowing public employers to require employees contribute 20 percent toward health insurance premiums relates to the next contract. Commissioners did so last year in a measure they applied to the county's 13 union bargaining units, most of which until then paid 6 percent toward insurance.

The move proved cost-saving for the county, but provided sticker shock for employees who saw monthly premiums for family health insurance increase from $73.61 to $245.38, or $24.54 to $81.79 for a monthly individual plan.

It prompted a bevy of unfair labor practice complaints and grievances from county union officials. Many faltered, but those from the five unions representing various sheriff's department employees stuck, in large part because their contracts don't end until 2018.

A recent Michigan Employment Relations Commission panel's ruling handed four sheriff's unions a victory. Corrections officers, sergeants, deputies and clerical employees will be reimbursed for about $150,000 in health insurance premiums they paid, assuming county officials don't pursue an appeal.

The commissioner-approved offers will withdraw a county appeal in exchange for four Police Officers Association of Michigan bargaining units to drop their grievances. Dan Kuhn, a POAM business representative, said Thursday he needed to read the proposed settlement agreements before he could comment.

Kuhn said the unions' relationship with county officials suffered under former Administrator Tom Menzel. He hoped for a "reset" under new Administrator Vicki Uppal.

"With the change in county administrators, I'm optimistic and encouraged," Kuhn said.

County labor attorney Peter Cohl said the Teamsters agreement settles the dispute with the union. He said it also inserts contract language that puts to rest any questions under Public Act 152 -- the law allowing the county to impose a 20 percent contribution.

The premium increase still saved the county money overall, he said.

"It will be over $1 million in two years, even though we did not prevail in four of nine unfair labor practice (complaints)," Cohl said.

___

(c)2017 The Record-Eagle (Traverse City, Mich.)

Visit The Record-Eagle (Traverse City, Mich.) at record-eagle.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.