Unalaska, AK – Unalaska's public safety employees and the city administration remain at an impasse in contract negotiations following an attempt at mediation late last month.

Both city officials and representatives of the public safety union say that attempts to negotiate the employees' contract, which expired on June 30 of last year, will most likely go to arbitration. At the executive session following Tuesday's meeting the Unalaska City Council voted to reject the most recent offer by the Public Safety Employees Association, the union that represents the department employees.

The PSEA's John Cyr, who's participating in negotiations, says the big sticking point is the cost of living that's taken into account in the new contract. He says the city's offer amounts to just a 2 percent increase over the 2000 cost of living.

"Clearly the cost of living in Unalaska has increased dramatically since then," Cyr said. "We realize we can't make it all up in the terms of this contract, but the city has clearly not lived up to its potential."

Cyr is seeking a 3.5 percent increase between merit steps for public safety employees, which he says is modest compared to pay scales elsewhere in Alaska. He notes that public safety employees in Unalaska are only paid about 80 cents an hour more than their counterparts in Anchorage, who have a far lower cost of living, and that State Troopers stationed in Unalaska are paid far more than troopers in less expensive parts of Alaska.

City Manager Chris Hladick says that the city is dealing with changes in the public employee retirement system and increases in health insurance costs, and can only offer what makes financial sense for the city.

"The City Council is looking at costs in the big picture," he said. "And with increased costs in PERS and health insurance costs, they're being cognizant of what's going on."

A mediator came out to Unalaska in late April to try to resolve the impasse, with no success. The next step will most likely be to bring in an outside arbitrator, who will hear both sides' cases and decide the matter for them.