Shift bid? The Contract? Just another management tool?

Today, February 27th, the shift bid finally became available. The Contract states it's to be out on or about February 15th. Typically that meant if the 15th fell on a weekend they got a couple of extra days. Big f'n deal to this administration. It took several complaints to management and a grievance being filed on the 24th for the bid to come out.

These are some points I made in an email to an administrative lieutenant:

Getting the shift bid out late creates several problems for our members and their families

1. Their families don't know what shifts they'll be working.

2. Prime Time Vacation Requests must be in by April 1st. This will leave employees little or no time to make vacation plans.

3.The 28 day schedule can't be posted until the shifts are determined, therefore people will not even know their days off until this is settled.

I don't know why it was posted so late IN VIOLATION OF THE CONTRACT. I only know that it was, and no one in the administration bothered to give either MNPEA or the HCSDA a heads up, or even an explanation or communication as to why.

By contrast, this administration uses contract language to bludgeon members.

When our members are late putting in shift bids they are forced onto middle shift.

When our members don't get their Prime Time Vacation requests in by April 1st they don't get a vacation.

When the members complain the answer always is, "read your contract."

The contract is owned by both parties, if the administration wanted to do something different, like change the dates for the bid, the time was at the negotiating table!

Unfortunately, to this administration the contract seems to be just another thing to be ignored, unless they need a tool to keep us in line.

Just more typical Stanek administration dealing with labor.