HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/15/82 (2)February 15, 1982
The Council of the City of Waterloo, Iowa, met in Special Session at City Hall Council
'Chambers, Waterloo, Iowa at 5:30 P.M., on February 15, 1982. Mayor Leo P. Rooff in the Chair.
On Roll Call: Present: Getty, Roehr, Wilharm, Burton, Dowie. Absent: Penaluna, Bowers.
Larry Wandro, representing Teamsters Local 844, read the grievance filed by the Union against
the City regarding the City's requirement of testing procedures in order to qualify for an
opening as a Clerk II in the Records Division of the Waterloo Police Department. He stated
that this was a procedure never before required on job openings.
Roger Mogle, Personnel Director, stated that the City has a right to test new employees, as
well as transfers and promotions within the confines of the bargaining unit. The testing
(which would be administered by Job Services of Iowa) would merely establish minimum
requirements for consideration for the job. The contract in several sections states that
employees, must qualify. Under Civil Service Law, the City is mandated to test for all
'promotions and new employees.
Councilman Getty asked if the testing procedure applies only to secretarial positions or also
all other City-wide openings. Mr. Mogle replied that the testing applies to all other unions
of the City.
Councilman Burton questioned why a girl must now be tested when in the past she had been
performing satisfactorily.
Neal Barrick, Attorney representing the union, referred to the Civil Service Law. His
interpretation of the testing procedures requires the establishment of a list of qualified
personnel from which postions would be filled. He also stated that the current contract
'requires a 30 day probationary period for a current employee and if in that time, an employee
does not perform satisfactorily, she may be returned to her former position by the department
head.
Mayor Rooff commented that the City has resisted compliance with the Civil Service Law, but is
now faced with doing so.
Betty Jean Ferguson, Human Rights Director, explained the importance of utilization of valid
test. The objectivity of testing is important and that Job Servicet has a validated testing
procedure.
Mayor Rooff suggested having department heads develop and administer a test tailored to the
requirements of the opening. Ms. Ferguson stated that such a procedure may infringe on the
rights of an individual and could later be found to be unfair or biased.
Ms. Kuhn said she felt that most positions in the same classification throughout the City
require the same basic skills.
The Mayor indicated that the Union was not opposed to some type of testing if carried out in a
place other than Job Service and that by working cooperatively, the Union and Personnel Office
could agree to some form of testing procedure.
It was moved by Wilharm, seconded by Burton that in this specific incident that testing only be
required if it would be a promotion with a testing procedure to be worked out between the City
and Union, and if the filling of the postion would be a lateral or downward movement no test be
required. Ayes: Dowie, Burton, Getty, Roehr, Wilharm. Absent: Bowers, Penaluna.
Moved by Getty, seconded by Wilharm to adjourn. Motion carried.
Larry P. Burger,
City Clerk