pmiiif Stite Wide m ' . . .''. .... . ,... . .. . . ' . Park City's sixty full-time municipal employees are expected ex-pected to decide this week whether -or not to affiliate themselves with a statewide public workers union in order ; to gain ' a better bargaining posture in annual salary and benefit negotiations. ' Most of the City's workers listened last Thursday to a presentation by representatives representa-tives of the Utah Public Employees Association and apparently over half of those in attendance expressed an interest in joining the organization. organ-ization. The Utah Public Employees Association (UPEA) was founded foun-ded over twenty years ago to assist government workers in the collective bargaining process pro-cess and now boasts a membership -of over 10,000. Government agencies currently current-ly affiliated with the UPEA, include Jhe Utah Department of Transportation,: Utah High) way Patrol, Salt Lake County employees and other municipalities munici-palities statewide. For the $5.00 individual monthly dues, UPEA provided its members access to a legal V-staff, V-staff, research facilities, and assistance in bargaining with local officials. The UPEA also will aid its members in drafting salary and benefit packages and will assist with their presentation before city councils and other governing bodies. They will also provide consultation services to help new locals get organized and offer various related advice when called upon. Jeanne Nuneviller, a spokesman spokes-man for the City's employees, told the Record that because this year's municipal budget is already on the drawing boards, boar-ds, the union affiliation would be of little help in current negotiations. 4 in considering joining . the . UPEA, we are looking to the long ; range- to ...... " '.' '' " ' ". .. 1 .' 1 ' ''' - ' ( T' Jt H .Jnf i-V.'.s-:. s - 1 !' y - J? i' ; next year's budget and to better benefits in future years." 'Ms. Nuneviller said. apart from competitive wages, the city now offers its employees a liberal retirement plan, health insurance policy, two weeks paid vacation after the first year of employment and three after the tenth, . twelve paid vacations per year, and paid sick leave. . Many workers appear to be satisfied with present conditions condi-tions but others complain about a lack of detailed job descriptions, no concrete step grade or advancement program, pro-gram, no set grievance procedure, pro-cedure, and the fact the city refuses to pay time and a half for overtime hours. In preparation prepar-ation of this year's municipal budget. City Manager Wayne Matthews recently asked the City's employees to submit a request for salary increases and other benefits they wish to receive during the forthcoming forthcom-ing year. When presented with the list ihree weeks ago ' Mr. Matthews found several of' the aboye complaints mentioned as well aa;.reouest jfpr an across the board salary increase for all workers of 20 'percent. The workers also;; asked'' that 'paid vacations be 4 increased fo three' weeks'after ' the fifth year of employment ' and four after the tenth, and that the ' City " begin paying ; time and-a half for overtime. ' " Mr." Matthews refused -'to devule whether the salary and vacation' increases would be accepted, but did admit the City ' pl'aiis Jt&- 'begin "''paying ' stindard time' arid :a half ' Wertime rates with the outset;-of outset;-of the next fiscal vear. ;' -,,., ,AsJto'the other complaints Matthews ; admitted ' the City .had been lax. in -updating its job descriptions and step grade 1 program ' adding, however; how-ever; that deficiencies! in' these-, ' M'eas Tare currently ;being f corrected, "m ui't - J When asked his reaction to the possibility of. a city employees rtnio'n. Mr Matth-; ews only 'plied: If that's their desire-fine." -' " Meanwhile; the employees' , are expected to vote ; on the union proposal Wednesday. ; Representatives of the UPEA maintain ; that at least 50 ; percent of the workers are needed to make the local union a viable entity but Jeanne Nuneviller says sheV? hoping for a greater percentage percent-age than that. "It's all of us or none." she said, "If we want-to want-to make anything of this we all have to get together and get behind it." .,' If the workers decide to join the UPEA, there will be an election of officers at the meeting Wednesday and a presentation explaining their actions will be drafted and made at the next meeting of the City Council.