REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
June 18, 2015
FROM: JEFF CARDELL, Director
Personnel Services Department
BY: KEN PHILLIPS, Labor Relations Manager
Personnel Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
1. Approve a Workers' Compensation Alternative Dispute Prevention and Resolution Agreement between the City and Units 4 and 9, represented by the Fresno Police Officers Association (FPOA)
2. Approve an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Savings Agreement between the City and Units 4 and 9, represented by FPOA
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that Council approve the attached Workers' Compensation Alternative Dispute Prevention and Resolution Agreement as well as the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Savings Agreement between the City and the Police Management and Police Basic Units represented by FPOA.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Following receipt of approval to negotiate from the State, the City negotiated with FPOA a Workers' Compensation Alternate Dispute Resolution and corresponding Savings Agreement. The attached ADR Agreement outlines a process that provides more efficient delivery of medical care and resolution of various disputes that develop during a workers' compensation claim. The process will be overseen by a joint committee composed of members appointed by the City and by the Association. Employees are required to use the alternative process outlined in the Agreement, but retain the right to make a final appeal to the Workers Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) after all appeals have been processed through the alternative process.
As part of the negotiations process, the City and FPOA have also agreed to an ADR Savings Agreement which provides that employees in Unit 4 and Unit 9 will receive 50% of savings, less costs associated with the ADR program.
Studies conducted by the State demonstrate that similar programs have been effective in resolving disputes at the lowest possible level, resolving claims sooner and red...
Click here for full text