Havre police ask for 5 percent raise

The union representing 14 Havre police officers is proposing a 5 percent across-the-board raise for each of the next two years and is asking that the city pay for the entire cost of the officers' health insurance premiums for the next two years.

Negotiations began last week for a labor contract that will go into effect July 1.

Dick Letang of the Montana Public Employees Association, the union representing the officers, and Havre police Sgt. Jerry Nystrom met with three members of the Havre City Council's Labor Relations Committee on Thursday for the first negotiating session of the year.

At Thursday's meeting the sides agreed on negotiating rules, and Letang explained the union's nine proposals.

The requests include paying officers for time spent in firearms training and at mandatory meetings.

The union proposed an increase in the amount officers are paid for working at night in addition to their regular pay, from $6 to $6.50 per shift.

It also proposed increasing officers' annual clothing allowance from $725 to $850, and requiring that there be at least four sergeant positions and one lieutenant position in the rank structure.

Negotiations on the proposals will begin May 10 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.