All police officers below the rank of Sergeant are represented by the Montana Public Employees Association, Billings Police Unit (MPEA).  The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the City of Billings and MPEA expired on June 30, 2009.  Last June, the MPEA and City of Billings reached a tentative agreement on all items except one.  Neither City Administration nor MPEA officials wanted to delay implementation of the tentatively agreed upon items, but the new CBA could not be approved by either party until all issues were resolved.  Therefore, the parties developed a document that stipulated that all items except one were agreeable, that those tentatively approved items should be implemented and that the single disputed issue would proceed through mediation and arbitration.  On July 13, 2009, the City Council approved the stipulation.  The MPEA and the City of Billings continued to meet and have tentatively agreed on the final item regarding the Grievance and Arbitration procedure.  This language requires MPEA members to first proceed through the grievance procedure of the CBA for all disputes, controversies or claims arising out of or relating to the CBA before advancing to arbitration or an alternative review process.  The City and Union believe this language is beneficial because it requires members to notify the City of a disagreement before selecting an alternative review process; thus, providing the City and the Union an opportunity to resolve the issue at the lowest level.   

City Council may:

• Approve the tentatively agreed upon Grievance and Arbitration language.
• Not approve the tentatively agreed upon Grievance and Arbitration language.
• Not approve the tentatively agreed upon Grievance and Arbitration language with instructions to staff regarding the disputed issue.

There is no financial impact to the City regarding the Grievance and Arbitration language.

City staff recommends that City Council approve the Grievance and Arbitration language that allows final implementation of all agreements in a MPEA Billings Police Unit Collective Bargaining Agreement.