WABASHA — Wabasha County Sheriff's Department deputies have rejected a contract a mediator helped write, and the matter will now probably go to arbitration.
Interim County Administrator Michael Plante said the deputies had twice tied on their vote. On Monday, he was told the deputies had rejected the offer on another vote.
"The next logical step is, I would guess, we will go to arbitration," he said.
The county board probably won't take up the matter until next week, he said.
The proposed contract basically mirrored one that three other county unions had accepted, Plante said. It would have given deputies cost of living adjustments from 1.5 percent in the first year and up to 2.5 percent the final year, Plante said.
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The proposed contract would have also required those who now get their insurance premiums at no cost to begin paying part of the premium, up to 10 percent by the end of the contract, he said.
A Teamsters Union representative did not return a call for comment.
The fifth contract the county is working on is with jailers; the two sides are planning on meeting later this month, Plante said.
