Havre police want binding arbitration in labor dispute

Disagreement over the amount the city should contribute to the health insurance premiums of 17 Havre police officers means binding arbitration is likely after city and union officials met Tuesday night, a union official said.

The Montana Public Employees Association, the union representing the police officers, filed a grievance over the issue on Sept. 5 after the city began taking a 45 percent insurance premium increase out of the officers' paychecks. The union says language in the current contract prohibits the city from doing that without reopening negotiations.

Havre Mayor Bob Rice denied t...