Thursday, December 28, 2000

The county approved a tentative three-year agreement with LELS, Local #74, also known as the Mower County dispatchers’ union, which included a 3 percent pay increase the first year, 3 percent the second year and 3.25 percent the third year.

Each dispatcher’s responsibility for insurance premiums could rise as much as $10 per year, though County Coordinator Craig Oscarson stated that the true amount of the increase will be dependent on a formula from the insurance company.

Life insurance was changed from a $5,000 cash value paid-up policy to a $50,000 term policy. In the new policy, dispatchers cannot cash their policy until they quit and heirs will receive the value of what the dispatcher paid into the account in the event of an untimely death.

Other changes to the union agreement include changes in personal time off, rates for certified training and alterations to the language in the contract.

The county also approved another tentative agreement, this time with the deputies’ and jailers’ union, Local no. 81. This agreement also included the 3/3/3.25 percent pay increases over the next three years and the insurance and life insurance changes, as the dispatchers’ agreement did.

In addition, deputies and jailers will not be paid for overtime up to 10 hours on days when they work 10 hours instead of eight, as long as their schedule is for four 10-hour days. Anything worked over 10 hours will be paid at the overtime rate.

Other changes to this contract include an increase in clothing allowance of $5 per month and an increase in the on-call rate. Language alterations also were included in this new contract.