I met with the MNPEA board today. Here's the scoop.
The County is being emailed a list of the stewards. I'm restored as Chief Steward. This is in effect until a steward election is held. A nomination sheet will go up within a week.
They will have meetings with the members ASAP
I passed on the following as important issues for our group. Feel free to add more when they meet with all of us.
1. Steward Elections
2. Contract
3. Sick Time
4. Night Shift differentials
5. 28 day schedule issues
6. Unresolved past grievances
By weeks end they will be dropping off grievance forms. Cards are being printed with important numbers for members.
In solidarity,
Wade Laszlo
Chief Steward
P.S. All Detention Deputies and Techs are being considered members and were covered by the MNPEA Legal Defense Plan effective Saturday July 29th. Click on the link and familiarize yourself with it. You now have on and off duty protection. You are also entitled to bring our attorney with you to I.A.
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!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Message from MNPEA
Hello All & Congratulations on today's victory! Thank you!
This email is to inform you and the members that as of Saturday you are covered by both MNPEA as your union and our Legal Defense Plan with the Robert Fowler Law Firm. Please call me if you need a Business Agent or call Rob Fowler if you need to speak with our Legal Counsel. Also we plan to reinstate all of the current stewards on Monday Oct. 31st and then have steward elections when we have the mailing list in November. I am meeting with Hennepin HR this coming Tuesday to work out the dues collection. We are also preparing to have a Unit Clarification Hearing at the BMS to try and separate out the Dispatchers into their own bargaining unit and will update you on when we can get a Hearing Date and have a pre-meeting with the Dispatch members to help us prep for the hearing.
Mike Golen
Director
Rob Fowler
Legal Counsel
MNPEA Overwhelming Victory
Our new exclusive representative is MNPEA .
The official tally at the BMS was 110-1 http://www.bms.state.mn.us/documents/electionresults/12PRE0198.pdf
In addition to us so far today Washington County , the City of Albert Lea , and Freeborn County have decertified Teamsters Local 320 for MNPEA.
There are other groups still in the process. Congratulations to everyone on a new beginning.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Freeborn County, First MNPEA Victory
Congratulations Freeborn County Sheriff's Patrol Sergeants!
On October 13, 2011 the Freeborn County Sheriff's Patrol Sergeants became the first group to become members of MNPEA!
There are more then a dozen other groups poised to do the same in the next few weeks!
On October 13, 2011 the Freeborn County Sheriff's Patrol Sergeants became the first group to become members of MNPEA!
There are more then a dozen other groups poised to do the same in the next few weeks!
MNPEA Ballots Coming
On October 17, 2011, the Bureau of Mediation Services will be mailing the ballots out to determine who will be our exclusive representative.
I urge you to vote for MNPEA.
A vote for MNPEA is a vote for dues of only $39 a month.
The best labor attorney in the State, Rob Fowler.
A superior Legal Defense Plan, covering on and off duty.
And real representation on the job.
I urge you to vote for MNPEA.
A vote for MNPEA is a vote for dues of only $39 a month.
The best labor attorney in the State, Rob Fowler.
A superior Legal Defense Plan, covering on and off duty.
And real representation on the job.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Letter from the FOP regarding Teamster attacks on MNPEA attorney Rob Fowler
Members Of The Minnesota Fraternal Order Of Police:
As some of you know, our general counsel Robert Fowler has been working hard to add membership to our organization. He is general counsel to a new labor union, MNPEA, that will bring roughly 250 officers into the FOP and our Legal Defense Plan (LDP) this year alone. MNPEA is not officially affiliated with the FOP - we remain unaffiliated with any labor group, but MNPEA will be offering to it's sworn law enforcement members the FOP's LDP. Many of the bargaining groups being brought into MNPEA are from the Teamsters.
Recently, bulk emails were sent out by a group sponsored by Teamsters 320 that is trying to discredit MNPEA's Business Agents and our own FOP Attorney. The emails state Mr. Fowler was fired from his previous employer and has been accused by the MN Attorney General's Office for stealing money from the FOP. I understand that any labor group has a right to maintain their membership numbers, but I take exception to this false accusation. Fowler's contract with the FOP started in 2005.
We have always had a system in place where we pay Mr. Fowler a flat rate for each LDP member, plus an annual vehicle allowance that started several years ago. He has never had access to our bank accounts or finances. Paul and I can say with absolute certainty that Rob Fowler has never stolen money from our organization - that would be impossible.
As your President, I contacted the AG's Office and even though they could not comment directly on this accusation, I was told that their office "would not investigate this type of complaint". I can also state with certainty that Mr. Fowler was not fired from his previous law job with Pat Kelly's Office, this was acknowledged during the bidding process for the FOP contract.
We are concerned because these false emails could cause our own members to question whether our organization or legal defense plan are worthwhile. Our legal defense plan and the services offered by our attoney are without question invaluable, and Mr. Fowler has always maintained high integrity. Please forward this out to your fellow lodge members and correctly inform anyone in your workplaces who may have heard this type of false misinformation. Let them know that the accusations are false.
As President, I also feel that you should know that there is a new labor union option out there. Mr. Fowler is MNPEA's general counsel so you will be assured quality legal representation. We have had some issues in the past with Teamsters coming close to crossing the line into FOP matters, and I feel that this latest attack clearly does cross that line. I feel you should question whether representation by Teamsters is appropriate for you, as law enforcement officers, when such clearly false and defamatory accusations are being made against our FOP attorney.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and feel free to contact Treasurer Dooley or myself if you have questions.
Gary Cayo
MN FOP President
Paul Dooley
MN FOP Treasurer
As some of you know, our general counsel Robert Fowler has been working hard to add membership to our organization. He is general counsel to a new labor union, MNPEA, that will bring roughly 250 officers into the FOP and our Legal Defense Plan (LDP) this year alone. MNPEA is not officially affiliated with the FOP - we remain unaffiliated with any labor group, but MNPEA will be offering to it's sworn law enforcement members the FOP's LDP. Many of the bargaining groups being brought into MNPEA are from the Teamsters.
Recently, bulk emails were sent out by a group sponsored by Teamsters 320 that is trying to discredit MNPEA's Business Agents and our own FOP Attorney. The emails state Mr. Fowler was fired from his previous employer and has been accused by the MN Attorney General's Office for stealing money from the FOP. I understand that any labor group has a right to maintain their membership numbers, but I take exception to this false accusation. Fowler's contract with the FOP started in 2005.
We have always had a system in place where we pay Mr. Fowler a flat rate for each LDP member, plus an annual vehicle allowance that started several years ago. He has never had access to our bank accounts or finances. Paul and I can say with absolute certainty that Rob Fowler has never stolen money from our organization - that would be impossible.
As your President, I contacted the AG's Office and even though they could not comment directly on this accusation, I was told that their office "would not investigate this type of complaint". I can also state with certainty that Mr. Fowler was not fired from his previous law job with Pat Kelly's Office, this was acknowledged during the bidding process for the FOP contract.
We are concerned because these false emails could cause our own members to question whether our organization or legal defense plan are worthwhile. Our legal defense plan and the services offered by our attoney are without question invaluable, and Mr. Fowler has always maintained high integrity. Please forward this out to your fellow lodge members and correctly inform anyone in your workplaces who may have heard this type of false misinformation. Let them know that the accusations are false.
As President, I also feel that you should know that there is a new labor union option out there. Mr. Fowler is MNPEA's general counsel so you will be assured quality legal representation. We have had some issues in the past with Teamsters coming close to crossing the line into FOP matters, and I feel that this latest attack clearly does cross that line. I feel you should question whether representation by Teamsters is appropriate for you, as law enforcement officers, when such clearly false and defamatory accusations are being made against our FOP attorney.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and feel free to contact Treasurer Dooley or myself if you have questions.
Gary Cayo
MN FOP President
Paul Dooley
MN FOP Treasurer
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Vote for Fred Gegare this week!
You should receive a ballot from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters this week for the general election. I encourage you to vote, and to vote for the Fred Gegare slate. I was a delegate to the 2011 Teamsters Convention and fully support him and his entire slate.
My, our beef, is with Teamsters Local 320 not the International. Yes, we are in the process of decertifying 320, they won't have a local election for two years and we can't take another two years of their abuse. Give a gift to our brothers and sisters in the labor movement, vote in someone who wants to return the power of the Teamsters to the members. Hoffa needs to go!
By the way, thank you Teamsters local 320, because you "protested" the list of names provided to the Bureau of Mediation Services we will all still be able to vote in the Teamsters General election!
My, our beef, is with Teamsters Local 320 not the International. Yes, we are in the process of decertifying 320, they won't have a local election for two years and we can't take another two years of their abuse. Give a gift to our brothers and sisters in the labor movement, vote in someone who wants to return the power of the Teamsters to the members. Hoffa needs to go!
By the way, thank you Teamsters local 320, because you "protested" the list of names provided to the Bureau of Mediation Services we will all still be able to vote in the Teamsters General election!