Minn. Stat. § 375.64: COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RELATIONSHIPS.

Subdivision 1. Joint employer.

For purposes of negotiating collective bargaining agreements and resolving grievances involving them pursuant to sections 179A.01 to 179A.25, the appointing authority and the county board shall be deemed the joint employer for positions within the jurisdiction of a personnel department established pursuant to sections 375.56 to 375.71. Both shall be signatories to negotiated agreements or grievance settlements. In the event of disagreement between the county board and the appropriate appointing authority as to the final terms of a negotiated agreement or grievance settlement, the decision of the county board shall be final and binding on behalf of the county as employer for all employees of the county, including employees under the jurisdiction of an appointing authority other than the county board.

Subd. 2. Incumbent employees.

Any employee holding a position covered by sections 375.56 to 375.71 shall, upon the effective date of the establishment of a county personnel administration system, retain the position without further examination and suffer no loss in wages, seniority or benefits as the result of the implementation of sections 375.56 to 375.71.