Members, you pay about $50 a month in dues. The amount of backing you get depends on who's on the 320 board.
Supporters of the current board have waged a war on me just for endorsing the MEMBERS FOR A BETTER UNION slate.
Correct me if I'm wrong. I pay dues. I do not work for local 320. They are supposed to work for me (and you). Local 320 does not provide me with insurance or a pension. Hmm, I must then be paying them to provide a service. That service is to represent the members.
I have a right and obligation to vote in a board I think will best represent us.
Remember, elections are often decided by small amounts of votes.
Let your voice be heard. Mail your ballot.
THIS IS AN OFFICIAL NEWS SITE FOR CURRENT AND RETIRED CORRECTIONS OFFICERS! This blog will keep up on current events affecting Detention Deputies and Corrections Officers. SINCE 2006!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Message from Brad Slawson. Sr.
From: Brad Slawson Sr Sent: Friday, October 29, 2010 2:59 PMTo: 'jnack@co.wilkin.mn.us'; 'jonnylaw@loretel.net'; 'blhjelmen@yahoo.com'Subject:
TO JOSH NACK, JON KARGER, DAVID JENNEN, DAN TUCKER, CHERYL PETERSEN, BOB HJELMAN, ANN MUELLER, DION BREDMAN.
Recently you have received an e mail from local 320 business agent MERL KING about teamsters local 120 and the election at local 320. My name is BRAD SLAWSON SR and I am the secretary treasure and head officer of local 120. In MERL’S e mail he says that local 120 is trying to take over local 320 with this election at local 320. Meryl goes on to say that local 120 is broke and has lost thousands of members in the past. This e mail is a complete false hood. Local 120 has never had any conversation with any member OF LOCAL 320 about merging our two locals. Local 120 is the largest local in MINNESOTA, IOWA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA with a very strong treasury. Local 120 has not or will be interested in any merger with local 320. Both locals are very large and should stand alone for their own membership. I cannot believe that MERL would stoop this low to spread these MALICIOUS lies and grand distortions about local 120. I can be reached at my office during business hours at 763 267 6100 for any member that wants’ to verify this e mail and its contents. Please feel free to distribute this e mail.
Fraternally:
BRAD SLAWSON SR
SECRETARY TREASURER
LOCAL 120
TO JOSH NACK, JON KARGER, DAVID JENNEN, DAN TUCKER, CHERYL PETERSEN, BOB HJELMAN, ANN MUELLER, DION BREDMAN.
Recently you have received an e mail from local 320 business agent MERL KING about teamsters local 120 and the election at local 320. My name is BRAD SLAWSON SR and I am the secretary treasure and head officer of local 120. In MERL’S e mail he says that local 120 is trying to take over local 320 with this election at local 320. Meryl goes on to say that local 120 is broke and has lost thousands of members in the past. This e mail is a complete false hood. Local 120 has never had any conversation with any member OF LOCAL 320 about merging our two locals. Local 120 is the largest local in MINNESOTA, IOWA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA with a very strong treasury. Local 120 has not or will be interested in any merger with local 320. Both locals are very large and should stand alone for their own membership. I cannot believe that MERL would stoop this low to spread these MALICIOUS lies and grand distortions about local 120. I can be reached at my office during business hours at 763 267 6100 for any member that wants’ to verify this e mail and its contents. Please feel free to distribute this e mail.
Fraternally:
BRAD SLAWSON SR
SECRETARY TREASURER
LOCAL 120
Why are comments now moderated?
As you know it's local 320 election time. There are some people who are angry because a group,
the MEMBERS FOR A BETTER UNION SLATE is running against the current board. The current board is nervous because members have a choice. Rather then engage in intelligent conversation they have engaged in a campaign of lies, intimidation and slander. I will not allow them to use my sites as a platform. Honest disagreement, as always will be allowed.
They have launched a personal attack on me spamming my sites because I support Gergare rather then Hoffa in the IBT election and I support the MEMBERS FOR A BETTER UNION SLATE.
They are spreading lies among members that those against the current board are really trying to let Teamsters Local 120 take over our local. Read business agent Merl King's email telling the lie. I've been told by members that most of the Sue Mauren slate is spreading this lie.
Teamsters Local 320 needs to remember we HIRE you as a service....to represent us.
the MEMBERS FOR A BETTER UNION SLATE is running against the current board. The current board is nervous because members have a choice. Rather then engage in intelligent conversation they have engaged in a campaign of lies, intimidation and slander. I will not allow them to use my sites as a platform. Honest disagreement, as always will be allowed.
They have launched a personal attack on me spamming my sites because I support Gergare rather then Hoffa in the IBT election and I support the MEMBERS FOR A BETTER UNION SLATE.
They are spreading lies among members that those against the current board are really trying to let Teamsters Local 120 take over our local. Read business agent Merl King's email telling the lie. I've been told by members that most of the Sue Mauren slate is spreading this lie.
Teamsters Local 320 needs to remember we HIRE you as a service....to represent us.
Teamsters Testimony at HCSO budget hearing
Thank you Henepin County Commisioners for the opportunity to testify. We have at least 3 allies on the board: Chairman Opat and Commisioners Stenglein and Mclaughlin. Please remember them this election day.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
October Updates
We lost our contract arbitration. Sadly, the county couldn't even give us some non-monetary language considering we took a wage and step freeze. Negotiations begin anew this summer.
The Department of Labor told me that the County has until November 15th to pay out the back pay on the overtime augments. After that the regional director will take action.
The grievance filed after the Sheriff's Office changed the seniority list was denied at step 2 and will be moved to step 3.
We are preparing the arbitration for the 1.5% inconvenient work schedule grievance.
The Horobin case is in court. This is the case where the HCSO released Garrity protected information.
We, (our BA and I) will address the County Board at the HCSO budget hearings on October 28th. We encourage you to attend. Location 24th floor Government Center. 1-4 PM.
Ballots are out for the Teamsters Local 320 elections. I encourage you to support the Members for a Better Union slate.
The Department of Labor told me that the County has until November 15th to pay out the back pay on the overtime augments. After that the regional director will take action.
The grievance filed after the Sheriff's Office changed the seniority list was denied at step 2 and will be moved to step 3.
We are preparing the arbitration for the 1.5% inconvenient work schedule grievance.
The Horobin case is in court. This is the case where the HCSO released Garrity protected information.
We, (our BA and I) will address the County Board at the HCSO budget hearings on October 28th. We encourage you to attend. Location 24th floor Government Center. 1-4 PM.
Ballots are out for the Teamsters Local 320 elections. I encourage you to support the Members for a Better Union slate.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Delegate Announcement
I, Wade Laszlo, am formally announcing that I am seeking to be a delegate supporting the Fred Gergare and Brad Slawson, Sr. Slate in the upcoming 2011 IBT elections.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
VOTE- the ballots have been mailed
VOTE- You are the Union. You can effect change.
I support the Members For A Better Union Slate.
Read their Manifesto.
Then ask yourself:
Where was the board when we had the Vote of no Confidence in Sheriff Stanek?
Where was MNTLEL, where was the outcry, when the Stanek administration violated Detention Deputy Horobin's Garrity rights and released Garrity protected statements?
We took zero's for raises and for the first time step freezes....but we were forced to arbitrate, and lose, 3 NON-MONETARY ITEMS. Consider this, 4 of 7 of the County Board members are Teamsters' endorsed by DRIVE. The County could have agreed to any or all of our requests without costing them a dime if they had any fear of losing a DRIVE endorsement.
While most Teamsters took wage freezes and some groups took cuts many on the board increased their salaries!
It's time to vote in a new board that remembers that Teamsters are about strength and backing the members.
Vote for the MEMBERS FOR A BETTER UNION SLATE. Please don't just throw away the ballot. You pay dues and have the right to vote. You deserve maximum backing for the dues you pay.
I support the Members For A Better Union Slate.
Read their Manifesto.
Then ask yourself:
Where was the board when we had the Vote of no Confidence in Sheriff Stanek?
Where was MNTLEL, where was the outcry, when the Stanek administration violated Detention Deputy Horobin's Garrity rights and released Garrity protected statements?
We took zero's for raises and for the first time step freezes....but we were forced to arbitrate, and lose, 3 NON-MONETARY ITEMS. Consider this, 4 of 7 of the County Board members are Teamsters' endorsed by DRIVE. The County could have agreed to any or all of our requests without costing them a dime if they had any fear of losing a DRIVE endorsement.
While most Teamsters took wage freezes and some groups took cuts many on the board increased their salaries!
It's time to vote in a new board that remembers that Teamsters are about strength and backing the members.
Vote for the MEMBERS FOR A BETTER UNION SLATE. Please don't just throw away the ballot. You pay dues and have the right to vote. You deserve maximum backing for the dues you pay.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Apparently The Field Has Opened
There is now a real write in candidate Linda Lachner.
In addition of course, to our friend the Facebook Kitten!
In addition of course, to our friend the Facebook Kitten!
Teamsters Ballots are coming!
For the local 320 elections I endorse the MEMBERS FOR A BETTER UNION SLATE.
For the upcoming International Teamsters Election I endorse Fred Gerage and Brad Slawson, Sr.
Take the time to follow the links and please vote.
For the upcoming International Teamsters Election I endorse Fred Gerage and Brad Slawson, Sr.
Take the time to follow the links and please vote.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Vote for the Members for a Better Union Slate!
Local elections are coming up. It's time for a change in leadership.
Tired of arbitrations taking a year or more (if ever) to happen?
Tired of wage freezes while union leadership gets raises?
I endorse the Members for a Better Union Slate!
Tired of arbitrations taking a year or more (if ever) to happen?
Tired of wage freezes while union leadership gets raises?
I endorse the Members for a Better Union Slate!
Monday, October 04, 2010
Propaganda in Shooting Straight
This week's Shooting Straight with Sheriff Stanek, is commenting about the budget woes the Sheriff's Office is facing. Including a 2% cut in revenue from property taxes. All well and good until he says, "In addition we must absorb an additional $1.3 million in 2011 for increases in health care costs, step increases and pensions."
Really? Health Care costs did not increase because the County went self insured, no labor groups are receiving step increases or cost of living raises for that matter and there has been no increase to the pension contributions.
Sheriff Stanek's use as propaganda the cost of our non-existent step increases as a cost he must absorb is not only bullshit, but insulting to those of us whose wages and steps were frozen.
It's pretty ballsy to publish in Shooting Straight this outright lie for all of us to see who are taking a wage freeze and step freezes.
I clicked on the email button on his Shooting Straight page where he says he's interested in our comments to ask him about this. It led to a blank page. So I typed the email address into my work email and tried again to ask him about this (forwarding a copy home). This email to the Sheriff also bounced!
I'd say this is more of a Shooting Crooked then Straight. I'd call this propaganda. Why else would he say he had budget costs to absorb that don't exist?
Really? Health Care costs did not increase because the County went self insured, no labor groups are receiving step increases or cost of living raises for that matter and there has been no increase to the pension contributions.
Sheriff Stanek's use as propaganda the cost of our non-existent step increases as a cost he must absorb is not only bullshit, but insulting to those of us whose wages and steps were frozen.
It's pretty ballsy to publish in Shooting Straight this outright lie for all of us to see who are taking a wage freeze and step freezes.
I clicked on the email button on his Shooting Straight page where he says he's interested in our comments to ask him about this. It led to a blank page. So I typed the email address into my work email and tried again to ask him about this (forwarding a copy home). This email to the Sheriff also bounced!
I'd say this is more of a Shooting Crooked then Straight. I'd call this propaganda. Why else would he say he had budget costs to absorb that don't exist?
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Public Employees Shouldn't Be Second Class Teamsters
Updated On: Sep 21, 2010 (19:05:00)
Being out of touch with everyday Teamsters is one thing. Not knowing they exist is another.
After more than a decade in office, James Phillip Hoffa doesn’t seem to realize that there are nearly 250,000 members in the Public Services Division. He recently stated:
“We’ve organized thousands of people. County employees in Florida. People you wouldn’t think we’d organize.”
Why wouldn’t we?
Unlike many people who have been organized during Hoffa’s administration, public employees have stable, good paying jobs. Plus, the public sector is a Teamster stronghold with contracts that need to be strengthened and protected.
Not only does James Phillip Hoffa deem public employees unworthy of organizing, he thinks that assigning a single IBT representative for a quarter of a million members is fair.
Not Fred. He’ll stop treating public employees like second class Teamsters and build a Public Services Division that will provide them with the representation they deserve.
REPRINTED FROM: FRED GEGARE 2007
Being out of touch with everyday Teamsters is one thing. Not knowing they exist is another.
After more than a decade in office, James Phillip Hoffa doesn’t seem to realize that there are nearly 250,000 members in the Public Services Division. He recently stated:
“We’ve organized thousands of people. County employees in Florida. People you wouldn’t think we’d organize.”
Why wouldn’t we?
Unlike many people who have been organized during Hoffa’s administration, public employees have stable, good paying jobs. Plus, the public sector is a Teamster stronghold with contracts that need to be strengthened and protected.
Not only does James Phillip Hoffa deem public employees unworthy of organizing, he thinks that assigning a single IBT representative for a quarter of a million members is fair.
Not Fred. He’ll stop treating public employees like second class Teamsters and build a Public Services Division that will provide them with the representation they deserve.
REPRINTED FROM: FRED GEGARE 2007