The prior USW contract known as the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and the Municipal Employees Division United Steel, Paper, and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, Local 11-502 is no longer enforceable. That specific contract went away when USW was decertified and the relationship with employees at the City of Fort Dodge ended.
The most questionable aspect of all is that the Five members of the Fort Dodge City Council signed an agreement to honor that labor union's contract which was done on May 7th of 2012. Three and half months went by and nothing was noticed until now that the Labor contract was ineligible. Current members of the council spoke out about the issue including Barney Patterson who said quote "I shouldn't have signed it, I regret it now". Councilman Dean Hill says he was just trying to show support of the workers. Councilman Don Wilson was very apologetic about agreeing to such a contract. Finally Councilman David Flattery wasn't happy about not being made aware of the contract and stated he would have never signed it.
As a result of the decertification, employees will be placed under the benefit plan and policy known as City Council Appointees, City Manager Appointees, and Non-Unionized Employees.
The ramifications and repercussions of all this has yet to be determined, but we'll keep you updated as we continue to investigate further developments.
Click here for photos from the City Council meeting.
