MPEA’s Billings Police Chapter has ratified a two-year contract with economic improvements and a better retirement structure, according to Darcy Dahle, MPEA’s Billings area representative. An on-site election was held June 23.
There will be no cost-of- living adjustment in the first year of the contract, then, a 2.5 percent increase in base pay in the second year of the contract. According to Dahle, many of the Billings officers are now working beyond 20 years and the old contract called for 12 steps over the course of 20 years. There were will now be a two percent step when an officer reaches 22 years of service. Officers, according to Dahle, didn’t want pay checks to just “flatten” after 20 years when some are working 30 years and more.
The Billings officers, like many others in law enforcement, are not covered by Social Security. To improve their retirement, the city’s health contribution will now be paid through the officers’ salaries. It won’t be taxed but it will be a benefit that can be used to increase the size of their retirement as it is paid through the public employees system covering municipal police officers. This is now being done in Bozeman and other cities, according to Dahle. The city’s contribution toward health insurance is now $688 per month and that will increase to $800 per month in the second year of the contract.
The contract covers 118 MPEA members and will have a first year cost of $153,600 and an additional $188,130 in the second year.
Dahle attributed the smoothness of these negotiations to the good working relationship that has evolved, over years, between MPEA, the officers and city management. Officers working with Dahle to develop this new contract included Mike Gilluly, Kon Kunnemann, Jamie Schillinger, Denise Baum, Max Battle and Mark Kostinko.

A first-ever contract covering the Colstrip Police Chapter was ratified April 20. This three-year contract will cover 10 full time law enforcement personnel, according to MPEA Field Representative Bob Chatriand.
This first-ever provides a union security provision, a grievance procedure ending in binding arbitration and wages that are to increase by 2 percent in July of each the fiscal years covered by the contract.
The new contract will also provide for shift differential of $1 an hour for those working night shifts, according to Chatriand, who noted that there will continue to be a uniform allowance but additional pay for those on K-9 duty and for field training officer activity.
It was also agreed that upon termination a worker would receive one-half of his/her unused sick leave as part of their pay out. Prior to adoption of the contract it had been one-fourth of the accrued sick leave.
Another benefit change relates to pay on some holidays. Now, on Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Labor Day those working will receive their regular straight time plus four additional hours pay.
Don Purdon negotiated the first-ever contract with Chatriand, who noted that an organizational effort is now under way for Colstrip’s city workers. He also noted that MPEA’s new Eastern Region Field Representative, Darcy Dahle, who will now represent these members.