County makes an offer to sheriff?s deputies

The Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners? two-member personnel committee, in an effort to avoid binding arbitration, is waiting for a response from the Police Officers Labor Council in regard to the county?s latest contract offer. Committee chairman Gary Wozniak said the offer was made last week and he hopes to hear an answer in the next couple of weeks. The officers of the Presque Isle County Sheriff?s Department have been working without a contract since the beginning of the year. Their three-year contract expired December 31.

THE LOCAL UNION chapter consists of two sergeants, eight deputies, and one animal control officer. POLC staff representative Tom Kreis, whose office is in Alpena, said the union filed for binding arbitration prior to the expiration of the contract. The last contract between the county and the union was settled by an arbitrator. Because of the Compulsory Arbitration Act (312) of 1969, police officers, deputies, and fire personnel are not allowed to strike in the state, but have the option of filing for arbitration with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission.

The MERC resolves labor disputes involving public

and private sector employees by appointing mediators, arbitrators and factfinders. Each side argues its case with the arbitrator and turns in a proposed agreement. AFTER LOOKING at all of the factors that pertain to each side, the arbitrator awards for one or the other. Kreis, who didn?t want to elaborate on the details of the negotiations, said the appointment of the arbitrator has been slowed by state budget cuts. Kreis believes the arbitration hearing is still several months away. Wozniak believes, as was the case in the last agreement, a retirement benefit issue is the major issue holding up a new agreement.

The POLC represents more than 340 police and fire contracts in Michigan. Commissioner Bob Schell is the other member of the personnel committee.