The Election Supervisor has found that Sue Mauren and the Mauren slate violated the
Election Rules by accepting web design and hosting services for the Mauren website from
Razworks LLC, a commercial web design and hosting service. Campaign contributions from nonmembers are strictly prohibited by the Rules. The Election Supervisor has directed Mauren to pay Razworks its usual and customary charges for the services provided and to cease using non-member contributions to campaign.
The Election Supervisor has issued this decision in Laszlo, 2010 ESD 87 (January 27, 2011).
You may read this decision at http://www.ibtvote.org/protests/2010/2011esd087.htm.
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!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Union Members. Watch Your Back!
ST. PAUL - A Republican representative has introduced legislation to make Minnesota a “right to work” state. -Workday Minnesota
Listen to the radio, read the news. The constant drum beat you hear is that Labor Unions are the cause of this country's deficits. They are the reason companies are leaving the U.S., our excessive wages and pensions are to blame for bankrupting States, it goes on and on.
Now, in a Labor friendly state like Minnesota, State Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, introduced a Right to Work bill.
What does that mean? It means if a company or shop is unionized there can be non-union workers doing your job, weakening the contract.
On average, workers in “right to work” states earn $5,000 less per year than those in more unionized states like Minnesota. -Workday Minnesota
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median weekly earnings for union members — $917 — remained higher than the $717 in earnings for workers not in unions. -The New York Times
According to Brad Slawson Sr, "One of the most important fights we have coming up in the next year is beating back this Right to Work legislation that is showing up across the country."
Brad Slawson Sr. is a Candidate on Fred Gergare's Fighting for the Member's campaign.
The Anyone But Hoffa Slate supports them. While Hoffa is busy paling around with CEO's , and offering bribes, Fred and Brad are fighting for our jobs.
What can you do to protect your job, wages and benefits? Call your State representatives and tell them to vote no to bill HF 65 .
Then Vote for the The Anyone But Hoffa Slate when you get your ballot in February.
Listen to the radio, read the news. The constant drum beat you hear is that Labor Unions are the cause of this country's deficits. They are the reason companies are leaving the U.S., our excessive wages and pensions are to blame for bankrupting States, it goes on and on.
Now, in a Labor friendly state like Minnesota, State Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, introduced a Right to Work bill.
What does that mean? It means if a company or shop is unionized there can be non-union workers doing your job, weakening the contract.
On average, workers in “right to work” states earn $5,000 less per year than those in more unionized states like Minnesota. -Workday Minnesota
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median weekly earnings for union members — $917 — remained higher than the $717 in earnings for workers not in unions. -The New York Times
According to Brad Slawson Sr, "One of the most important fights we have coming up in the next year is beating back this Right to Work legislation that is showing up across the country."
Brad Slawson Sr. is a Candidate on Fred Gergare's Fighting for the Member's campaign.
The Anyone But Hoffa Slate supports them. While Hoffa is busy paling around with CEO's , and offering bribes, Fred and Brad are fighting for our jobs.
What can you do to protect your job, wages and benefits? Call your State representatives and tell them to vote no to bill HF 65 .
Then Vote for the The Anyone But Hoffa Slate when you get your ballot in February.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Fred Gergare News
The Candidate I support for IBT President is Fred Gergare. This is news from his site you will find enlightening over the corrupt Hoffa Slate.
Fred Sweeps 5 Delegate Elections
Updated On: Jan 20, 2011 (10:02:00)
Fred Gegare and the "Fighting for the Members" campaign continues to fire on all cylinders by winning delegate elections at five local unions (89, 327, 651, 662, and 783). As Fred's convention delegation grows by the day, Teamsters are sending a clear message that James Phillip Hoffa's reign is coming to an end. See below to find out how to become a Gegare Delegate and to get a Fred campaign leaflet.
Teamsters Election Supervisor: Hoffa Lied to Cover Up Bribery Attempts
Updated On: Jan 21, 2011 (19:51:00)
An official investigation by IBT Election Supervisor Richard W. Mark intocorruption charges against James Phillip Hoffa, his campaign staff and three of his Vice Presidents, including his running mate Ken Hall, revealed "a culture, or mindset where elected union officials do not clearly distinguish between their fiduciary responsibilities to the union and their separate politicalobjectives of achieving election."
In addition, the investigation uncovered "conduct that showed no recognitionthat campaigning cannot be conducted through and using the union structureitself."
FULL STORY
I am running as a delegate on the Anyone But Hoffa Slate. Our slate members support Fred Gerage and Sandy Pope, anyone but Hoffa!
Fred Sweeps 5 Delegate Elections
Updated On: Jan 20, 2011 (10:02:00)
Fred Gegare and the "Fighting for the Members" campaign continues to fire on all cylinders by winning delegate elections at five local unions (89, 327, 651, 662, and 783). As Fred's convention delegation grows by the day, Teamsters are sending a clear message that James Phillip Hoffa's reign is coming to an end. See below to find out how to become a Gegare Delegate and to get a Fred campaign leaflet.
Teamsters Election Supervisor: Hoffa Lied to Cover Up Bribery Attempts
Updated On: Jan 21, 2011 (19:51:00)
An official investigation by IBT Election Supervisor Richard W. Mark intocorruption charges against James Phillip Hoffa, his campaign staff and three of his Vice Presidents, including his running mate Ken Hall, revealed "a culture, or mindset where elected union officials do not clearly distinguish between their fiduciary responsibilities to the union and their separate politicalobjectives of achieving election."
In addition, the investigation uncovered "conduct that showed no recognitionthat campaigning cannot be conducted through and using the union structureitself."
FULL STORY
I am running as a delegate on the Anyone But Hoffa Slate. Our slate members support Fred Gerage and Sandy Pope, anyone but Hoffa!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
A message from the Anyone But Hoffa Slate
Dear Local 320 members,
On Februaury 12th, ballots will be mailed to Local 320 members' homes to elect 13 delegates and four alternates to send to the International Teamster Convention that will be held in the last week of June in Las Vegas. The convention will nominate candidates to run for International Teamster President. That election is held in October of this year. The convention can also make changes to the International Constitution.
I am proud to running with the "Anyone But Hoffa" slate, www.anyonebuthoffa.com We are a slate that truly represents the diverse jobs across public employment in the state of Minnesota, and we have wealth of experience representing members. We are committed to representing the interests of the members, not leaders who want to continute their lavish lifestyles and disconnection from the membership. Sue Mauren received $200,000 in total compenstaion in 2009, Jimmy Hoffa, who she backs for re-election, received $ 368,000. Mauren's brother-in-law, Jeff Farmer, who works as Hoffa's organizing director, received $149,071 in salary and $173,672 total compensation in 2009. All of these overpaid unon leaders will receive very generous retirements as well.
Our slate will fight to ban multiple salaries, and have income limits for union leaders, as well stop the junkets that many officers and BAs attend that provide no value to the members. We will work to re-direct these funds to better representation, organizing new members, and better education workshops for stewards and activist members. We are also fighting to get a yearly dues break for members who have experienced furloughs and wage freezes. We will support a change to the Teamster Constitution that would allow locals to change their by-laws to allow for elected Business Agents. Currently, the constitution bans locals from making this change. We think this should be decided at the local level. We will support the nomination of alternative candidates to Hoffa, some on our slate support Sandy Pope, President of Local 805 in New York, and some support Fred Gegare, a current International Vice President. Pope is a longtime member of Teamsters for a Democratic Union, Gegare was formerly part of Hoffa's slate and has now broken away and is challenging Hoffa.
The members of our slate are listed below. We need your support in this upcoming election. You can help us by spreading the word in your workplace, and urge your co-workers to vote for our slate in this important election. It's time for a new direction in the Teamsters Union, and you can help us make it happen.
Solidarity,
Erik Jensen
Mike Golen, Business Agent and past President, Local 320
Erik Jensen, Steward and Negotiating Cmte, Senior Building and Grounds Worker
Dave Deal, Chief Steward, Washington County Corrections and Dispatchers. Corrections sargent.
Wade Laszlo, Chief Steward, Hennpepin County Detention Deputies. Detention Deputy.
Laverna Wharam, Steward, Paraprofessional Unit, Inver Grove Heights Schools District.
Pam Solem, Seventh District Judicial Support Unit
Marjie Weinberger, Steward and Negotiator. Bus Driver, Minneapolis Public Schools.
Carol Orcutt, Hennepin County Detention Deputy.
Margaret (Peggy) Sik, Grant County Social Services
Shawn Vosejpka, Probation Officer and Steward, Rice County
Neal Gale, Steward and Driver, University of Minnesota
Marv Stutz, Commander, Washington County Sheriff's Department. Past Steward.
David Kremer, Farm Eqent Operator, University of Minnesota.
Alternates:
Vicki Kloos, Grant County Social Services
Mike Mastrian, Steward and Probation Officer, Washington County.
Thomas "Odin" Brenden, Bus Driver, Minneapolis Public Schools
Dave Kosciolek, Probation Officer, Ramsey County
On Februaury 12th, ballots will be mailed to Local 320 members' homes to elect 13 delegates and four alternates to send to the International Teamster Convention that will be held in the last week of June in Las Vegas. The convention will nominate candidates to run for International Teamster President. That election is held in October of this year. The convention can also make changes to the International Constitution.
I am proud to running with the "Anyone But Hoffa" slate, www.anyonebuthoffa.com We are a slate that truly represents the diverse jobs across public employment in the state of Minnesota, and we have wealth of experience representing members. We are committed to representing the interests of the members, not leaders who want to continute their lavish lifestyles and disconnection from the membership. Sue Mauren received $200,000 in total compenstaion in 2009, Jimmy Hoffa, who she backs for re-election, received $ 368,000. Mauren's brother-in-law, Jeff Farmer, who works as Hoffa's organizing director, received $149,071 in salary and $173,672 total compensation in 2009. All of these overpaid unon leaders will receive very generous retirements as well.
Our slate will fight to ban multiple salaries, and have income limits for union leaders, as well stop the junkets that many officers and BAs attend that provide no value to the members. We will work to re-direct these funds to better representation, organizing new members, and better education workshops for stewards and activist members. We are also fighting to get a yearly dues break for members who have experienced furloughs and wage freezes. We will support a change to the Teamster Constitution that would allow locals to change their by-laws to allow for elected Business Agents. Currently, the constitution bans locals from making this change. We think this should be decided at the local level. We will support the nomination of alternative candidates to Hoffa, some on our slate support Sandy Pope, President of Local 805 in New York, and some support Fred Gegare, a current International Vice President. Pope is a longtime member of Teamsters for a Democratic Union, Gegare was formerly part of Hoffa's slate and has now broken away and is challenging Hoffa.
The members of our slate are listed below. We need your support in this upcoming election. You can help us by spreading the word in your workplace, and urge your co-workers to vote for our slate in this important election. It's time for a new direction in the Teamsters Union, and you can help us make it happen.
Solidarity,
Erik Jensen
Mike Golen, Business Agent and past President, Local 320
Erik Jensen, Steward and Negotiating Cmte, Senior Building and Grounds Worker
Dave Deal, Chief Steward, Washington County Corrections and Dispatchers. Corrections sargent.
Wade Laszlo, Chief Steward, Hennpepin County Detention Deputies. Detention Deputy.
Laverna Wharam, Steward, Paraprofessional Unit, Inver Grove Heights Schools District.
Pam Solem, Seventh District Judicial Support Unit
Marjie Weinberger, Steward and Negotiator. Bus Driver, Minneapolis Public Schools.
Carol Orcutt, Hennepin County Detention Deputy.
Margaret (Peggy) Sik, Grant County Social Services
Shawn Vosejpka, Probation Officer and Steward, Rice County
Neal Gale, Steward and Driver, University of Minnesota
Marv Stutz, Commander, Washington County Sheriff's Department. Past Steward.
David Kremer, Farm Eqent Operator, University of Minnesota.
Alternates:
Vicki Kloos, Grant County Social Services
Mike Mastrian, Steward and Probation Officer, Washington County.
Thomas "Odin" Brenden, Bus Driver, Minneapolis Public Schools
Dave Kosciolek, Probation Officer, Ramsey County
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Strike Vote & other 320 News
Last Nights Union meeting was quite eventful.
Strike Vote
Our Teamsters Local 320 brothers and sisters have voted to go on strike in St. Louis County, MN.
The Duluth News Tribune has an article about this:
Talks with the Teamsters, who repair and drive the county’s road graders and snowplows during winter months, are being mediated by the State Bureau of Mediation Services.
The Teamsters have informed the state they will strike as early as Jan. 19 if a new contract isn’t settled. They are the only bargaining unit in the county that has authorized a strike.
They had already agreed to a wage freeze, but St. Louis County pushed it farther and wanted them to give up seniority!
Hopefully St. Louis County will see the light before it's too late. If the strike does happen hopefully it will be shorter then our Hennepin County strike in 1981.
Proposed by-laws changes:
Two by-laws changes were put forth last night. They will be discussed at February's meeting and voted on in March.
1. (Introduced by Dave Deal) That all 320 Officer and BA salary increases must be voted on by members.
2. (Introduced by Wade Laszlo) That "Just Cause" be applied to business agents for discipline and dismissal.
Strike Vote
Our Teamsters Local 320 brothers and sisters have voted to go on strike in St. Louis County, MN.
The Duluth News Tribune has an article about this:
Talks with the Teamsters, who repair and drive the county’s road graders and snowplows during winter months, are being mediated by the State Bureau of Mediation Services.
The Teamsters have informed the state they will strike as early as Jan. 19 if a new contract isn’t settled. They are the only bargaining unit in the county that has authorized a strike.
They had already agreed to a wage freeze, but St. Louis County pushed it farther and wanted them to give up seniority!
Hopefully St. Louis County will see the light before it's too late. If the strike does happen hopefully it will be shorter then our Hennepin County strike in 1981.
Proposed by-laws changes:
Two by-laws changes were put forth last night. They will be discussed at February's meeting and voted on in March.
1. (Introduced by Dave Deal) That all 320 Officer and BA salary increases must be voted on by members.
2. (Introduced by Wade Laszlo) That "Just Cause" be applied to business agents for discipline and dismissal.
Thursday, January 06, 2011
2011 updates
It's a new year and here's where we're at.
Overtime back pay. The Department of Labor is involved trying to get us the overtime back pay due. They contact me at least every two weeks and give me a progress report. The employer keeps changing the game, but progress is being made. It's unfortunate that payroll has no trouble immediately taking money from our checks if they feel its due, for example this Christmas Eve they took money from Veterans, last Christmas Eve it was $300 in alleged overpaid Holiday pay (Merry Christmas right?). Yet, they drag their feet to conform to Federal Law.
Pizza's coming. Our B.A. Tom Perkins will be sending in Pizza's on Thursday, January 13th for all Teamsters members on all shifts. This should ease the shut down of staff dining for maintenance for at least one day!
Shift Survey. As you know shifts are the employers right and the Sheriff has put us on the 28/8 shift. During Labor Management Meet and Confers the Chief made it clear, "This is a notification not a negotiation. You will be going to a 28 day 8 hour shift and we will consider no other options." During last negotiations we proposed several other shift options, 10 hour shifts, 12 hour shifts and 6/3. Their response was that the shift was management right and they weren't interested in anything but the 28/8. Well...negotiations begin again this summer. Our B.A. Tom Perkins will be sending out a survey in the next few weeks about shifts. The result of the survey will become a contract proposal.
Overtime back pay. The Department of Labor is involved trying to get us the overtime back pay due. They contact me at least every two weeks and give me a progress report. The employer keeps changing the game, but progress is being made. It's unfortunate that payroll has no trouble immediately taking money from our checks if they feel its due, for example this Christmas Eve they took money from Veterans, last Christmas Eve it was $300 in alleged overpaid Holiday pay (Merry Christmas right?). Yet, they drag their feet to conform to Federal Law.
Pizza's coming. Our B.A. Tom Perkins will be sending in Pizza's on Thursday, January 13th for all Teamsters members on all shifts. This should ease the shut down of staff dining for maintenance for at least one day!
Shift Survey. As you know shifts are the employers right and the Sheriff has put us on the 28/8 shift. During Labor Management Meet and Confers the Chief made it clear, "This is a notification not a negotiation. You will be going to a 28 day 8 hour shift and we will consider no other options." During last negotiations we proposed several other shift options, 10 hour shifts, 12 hour shifts and 6/3. Their response was that the shift was management right and they weren't interested in anything but the 28/8. Well...negotiations begin again this summer. Our B.A. Tom Perkins will be sending out a survey in the next few weeks about shifts. The result of the survey will become a contract proposal.