Lethal force used Folsom Prison

Pushing Ahead

I will have forms available soon for you to add to your MNTLEL survey when it comes out. Fill out the forms and add it to the envelope. Let's have a united front and turn them in together!

*Show MNTLEL we want a merge of our pension with Police and Fire. This doubles our pension, gives Police and Fire money, saves the County money and gives us a raise because we will no longer have to pay Social Security.

*We want a seat on the PERA Board to monitor our pension.

*We want the Corrections Bill of Rights to have teeth.

Licensure may be nice, but guarantees nothing except more training, the Pension is long term.

ENDORSEMENT NEWS: THE HCSDA ENDORSED SHERIFF STANEK!

What did they gain? Nothing.

Fact: According to the County Attorney's Office with the stroke of his pen Sheriff Stanek can restore the 1.5% inconvenient work schedule pay as he promised when we switched to the 28 day schedule. Instead they and us are having to arbitrate! HCSDA what have you gained? He can now say Labor Endorsed. Please tell me what he has done for Labor? Licensed staff has been hurt just as bad by the 28 day schedule, a little solidarity would have been huge. While you didn't have to go the lengths us Teamsters did and VOTE NO CONFIDENCE, you had the power not to endorse.

Survey and Priorities

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Teamsters MNTLEL will be sending out a survey regarding MNTLEL priorities. I recommend that you check 'other' on the survey and mark down PENSION as number one.

There are several of us that are working to merge our pension with Police and Fire. This will double your benefit, save the county money by eliminating payments to Social Security and give you a raise in the amount you currently pay to Social Security. It's been 10 years since our BA Tom Perkins worked to get our correctional pension. It's time for equality with our other MNTLEL brethren.

Remember, YOU are the Union, take advantage of this survey.

Reminder: Contract Arbitration is set for September 9th.

Wade Laszlo
Chief Steward

Update backpay

Teamsters Local 320 members no longer will have to submit an individual request to get their overtime back pay, we now have blanket coverage.

I believe Detention Tech Dave Bentzen deserves a pat on the back for discovering this and pursuing it so relentlessly!

The record straight on overtime backpay!

The Jail Inspector has posted a special order regarding the overtime we were all shorted the past few years. She says Hennepin County Human Resources is working on it if you already submitted a request.

She goes on to say that,"the Sheriff's Licensed Deputy union has made a blanket request of the Human Resources department to research overtime pay for it's membership--no further correspondence from its membership is necessary."

Seriously?

Here's a copy of an email I sent to the Jail Inspector and the contact from Hennepin County Human Resources payroll:

Thanks for the 'Special Order' regarding backpay. Inspector Martin you point out that the licensed deputies have a 'blanket' request. Is there a reason all Teamster 320 members have to continue to ask for this individually? Mr. Oleness in an email to you on 7/26 I asked this same question about blanket coverage. Can you just extend this blanket request to all of us. After all this is the result of a Teamster Detention Tech filing a class action grievance then being referred to the Department of Labor by our Teamsters business agent.

Thanks,
Wade Laszlo
Chief Steward Teamsters Local 320

Am I to deduce a similar request made by Teamsters doesn't count? Hey, we told the licensed association about this.

The credit goes to Dave Bentzen and our business agent Tom Perkins.

The shame goes to Hennepin County. You knew the pay was wrong when you switched to APEX last October.

Should we trust you to figure it out for us?

You avoided all of our inquires when APEX came about. If you know the pay is owed why do licensed deputies get it handed to them but Teamsters must ask individually?

Just another reason Teamsters Union members voted no confidence in Sheriff Stanek!

Top local Teamster splits with Hoffa

Longtime Twin Cities labor leader Tom Keegel dropped out of the union's leadership campaign after running three times as Hoffa's No. 2 man. Star Tribune

Full Story

Tom Keegel is a man that has been our friend for years. He also personally blocked Sheriff Stanek's attempt for a Teamsters endorsement in 2006.

Tom Keegel's Career

Tom Keegel's Retirement Letter