A union grievance has been denied by the city of Decorah.
The Decorah City Council Monday night approved the recommendation of its personnel committee to turn down the grievance over a retiring employee's health insurance.
The employee, who is not a member of the union, is retiring April 2.
The city's policy is to only cover the cost of health insurance through the employee's last day. After that time, the city's policy provides the employee's health insurance can be paid from unused sick pay, said Rachel Vagts, chair of the personnel committee. That's been the city's practice for both union employees and non-union supervisory employees, she said.
The union grievance said the employee's health insurance should be covered by the city through the end of the month.
City Attorney Rick Zahasky said there was "no standing" for the grievance since it was filed by someone who is not a member of the Union, AFSCME Council 61, which includes non-supervisory employees in the police department, water department, library, street department and waste water treatment plant.
