Fort Dodge employees formerly represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees have lost their union representation as a result of a change in state law enacted in 2017.

Among other things, that state law required regular retention and recertification elections by union members to determine if their bargaining unit will remain in place.

Under the state law, a majority of union members, not just a majority of those voting, must vote yes for a union to remain in place. Employees who do not vote are counted as no votes.

Last month, the Iowa Employment Appeal Board conducted a retention and recertification election for the local AFSCME union. The vote failed. The union was decertified on Nov. 12.

Tonight, the City Council will consider an action in response to the union decertification.

The council will consider extending the union benefits, including vacation, sick leave, holidays, family medical time, funeral leave and compensatory time/overtime through the end of this year. The former union members will switch to the city’s benefit plan for non-union employees on Jan. 1.

The council will consider that action when it meets at 6 p.m. today in the Municipal Building, 819 First Ave. S.

Also during tonight’s meeting, the council will consider the second reading of a measure to rezone some city-owned property along Fifth Avenue South between 15th and 19th streets to a commercial designation.