Ortonville- The three employees of the department of public works may soon be part of a collective bargaining group.
In April 2003 the Ortonville Department of Public Works employees filed to be represented by Teamsters Local 214.
Les Barrett, a trustee with Local 214 said when the issue regarding the union started the village objected to one of the three DPW employees included in the bargaining unit. At issue says Barrett was the incorporation of a supervisor within the group of the three DPW workers.
Following a hearing before administrative law judge for the Michigan Employment Relations Commission in December 2003, the commission ruled in favor of all three employees included in the bargaining unit.
An election was held in September 2004 and by a vote of 2-1 the bargaining rights were awarded.
The village DPW workers declined comment following the vote.
The Local 214 has a membership of more than 9,000 and are the largest Teamsters local union in the state. The local currently represents three bargaining units at the Brandon School district: food service, custodial and maintenance; and bus drivers and mechanic employees.
The village was notified last month in a letter from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth Employment Relations Commission regarding the outcome of the vote.
‘We, along with our attorneys will meet with union representatives to discuss in good faith the conditions,? said Paul Zelenak, village manager. ‘Rate of pay, wages and conditions of employment will be issues discussed as they bargain as a group.?
No date has been set for the meeting.
Teamsters Local 214 was chartered in 1965 to represent only public employees in the State of Michigan representing administrative, technical, clerical, law enforcement, labor and trade occupation in public employment.