A 1-year contract with Teamsters Union Local 190 was tentatively approved on Aug. 23, 2010, and is being presented to the City Council for approval.  The 360 members of the Teamsters Local in the City of Billings are expected to vote on the contract before the City Council is scheduled to consider it at the September 13th meeting.  A report on the outcome of the Local vote will be made at the City Council meeting.

The contract, Attachment A, covers a period from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011.  If approved, it would expire at the same time as a Billings Police Department Montana Public Employees Association Contract.  The major changes in the attached contract are as follows:

• Agreement on the adoption of a Teamsters' Random Drug/Alcohol and Reasonable Suspicion Policy and Procedures that expands accountability to all full time or part time Teamsters who work in hazardous environments, security positions, positions affecting public safety, or fiduciary positions.  Currently, random drug/alcohol testing applies only to Teamsters subject to Commercial Drivers' License or Federal Transportation Administration testing;
• Addition of three Teamster-selected employees to the Citywide Safety Committee;
• Improvements in the grievance process, including an agreement that all grievable disputes or claims first must proceed through grievance before going to arbitration or an alternative review process; and
• A 2.9% pay increase retroactive to July 1, 2010.

The Teamsters Drug/Alcohol and Reasonable Suspicion Policy is scheduled to be adopted by resolution at the September 27 City Council meeting, along with a companion policy that sets the same standards for non-represented and elected City officials.

• Approve the attached contract;
• Propose modifications leading to additional bargaining on the contract; or
• Reject the contract , leading to additional bargaining.

Total estimated cost of the salary increase for Teamsters is $520,925.83, including FICA, Medicare, Workers' Comp and Unemployment.  The cost will be spread across 17 Funds.  Budget amendments are in a separate agenda item on September 13.

It is recommended that the City Council approve the 1-year Teamsters contract.