Sartell Council Approves Non-Union Raises [AUDIO]

Sartell -- Nine non-union Sartell city employees will see a pay raise after the city council approved the measure on a 3-2 vote last (Monday) night. The pay increases are effective as of January 1st, 2013, which will be applied retroactively.

The positions seeing a raise are the city administrator, finance director, police chief and public works director among others.

This will be the first raise for non-union workers in 5 years. During that span, union employees saw their salaries adjusted for the cost of living while non-union employees did not see any merit increases -- including a pay freeze in 2009.

City Aministrator, Patti Gartland says they are still working to close the gap between union and non-union positions.

Gartland says the situation needed to be addressed.

The city employs a total of 42 people, with 33 being unionized.