Sheldon, Iowa — When the Sheldon City Council met this past Thursday they went into a closed session to discuss the merger of the two labor unions that represent City employees.
According to City Manager Sam Kooiker, the mayor and council are inclined to support the merger, subject to a public hearing scheduled for January 15th, and the willingness of PERB, the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board, to delay their own hearing that is also set for January 15th in Des Moines. Kooiker noted that Sheldon is one of a handful of places in Iowa where such a merger is possible and it’s been a very difficult issue due to the lack of precedent, timing of the upcoming budget process and the state and local dynamics involved.
Following Thursday’s closed session, the council reconvened in open session and approved the following motion: “Because of impact of merger on negotiations, a motion to set a public hearing for January 15th on the proposed merger, and authorize the City Attorney to seek a delay of the PERB hearing which is also scheduled for January 15th.”
