Contract negotiations resume today between Saint Louis County in northeastern Minnesota and its union snowplow drivers — with next Monday the earliest the drivers could strike. County Administrator Kevin Gray says they’re making progress and hoping for a positive outcome so there’s no strike. “I think that neither side wants that [a strike] and so we’re hopeful to have a settlement, reach a common agreement that’s fair to both sides and the taxpayers.”
Union members cite health care issues as the reason for an earlier strike authorization vote. County Administrator Gray says if agreement can’t be reached, contingency plans are in place for supervisors and other qualified staff to do the plowing. “The emphasis will be on high-priority, high-traveled, high-volume roads — and we’ll get the job done,” he says.