Brainerd City Council prepares for possible public utility strike – Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD – The Brainerd City Council approved its strike resolution plan during a special meeting on Monday, July 8.

The strike plan states that in the event of a strike, the City believes it is important to take the necessary measures to ensure that City services continue to be provided during a strike, safety and order are maintained, and all employees are familiar with the rights, responsibilities, and policies that apply during a strike.

Brainerd City Manager Nick Broyles informed the City Council that the city had received letters from Local No. 31 of the Brainerd Public Utilities International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers authorizing a strike for June 28.

A letter from the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services states that a strike may legally begin on July 13. The letter also states that the legal right to strike ends on August 1 at 11:59 p.m.

A separate mediation letter states that both parties must attend mediation at BPU on July 12.

Council member Kara Terry raised a criticism of the strike resolution plan. She said she was concerned about language in a section authorizing overtime pay to BPU management, which would be required to work overtime in the event of a BPU Local No. 31 strike.

Terry said she and many other public sector employees often work over 40 hours a week until the job is done. She said a strike creates a unique situation where more is expected of employees and would recommend overtime pay for anything beyond 60 hours a week if and when the BPU goes on strike.

BPU Commissioner Mike Angland asked why 60 hours had been chosen when salary was calculated on the basis of a 40-hour week.

Both Terry and Broyles said that an employee is expected to work until the job is done and often works more than 40 hours a week. They were willing to offer an increase of one and a half times the normal hourly rate at 60+ hours because employees would work more to cover the work that needed to be done.

Since the proposed strike resolution only stated that pay would increase if an employee worked “beyond the normal work week,” Council Member Jeff Czeczok suggested changing the phrase “beyond the normal work week” to include any hour worked beyond 60 hours per week.

Kris Schubert, human resources director for the city of Brainerd and BPU, said they should check with the Bureau of Mediation Services about the proposed changes.

Council President Kelly Bevans said if the Bureau of Mediation Services asks them to change the proposal again, they could vote to return the proposal to its original form at the next council meeting on July 15.

The strike decision and the changes proposed therein were adopted unanimously. The Council then closed the meeting to discuss the collective bargaining strategy.

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Tim Speier joined the Brainerd Dispatch in October 2021 to cover public safety.