The people the public forgets about are still dangerous.

A good friend of mine on the LAPD shared this article with me.

Convicted murderer from L.A. attacks two guards on death row

"Timothy Joseph McGhee, 39, who was convicted of killing three people, used a hand-made weapon to attack the guards Thursday morning as they returned him a a shower to his cell, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said. The guards received cuts and wounds on their heads, necks and arms and were treated at a hospital."   LA Times

It just goes to show that once the bad guys are locked up and out of the public eye they still continue to be a danger to Correctional Officers. Only we are often locked in with them at a ratio of 60 to 1 and unarmed. Odds most cops wouldn't even think about.

Union Stewards and Important Information

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MNPEA MEMBERS

These are your MNPEA Stewards in the Hennepin County Jail Division:

B. Ebbers
J. Herlitz
W. Laszlo
P. Miles
B. Peterson
M. Smith
T. Westerdahl

MNPEA Stewards will assist you with grievances and sit with you if you are called into a situation that could result in discipline. See Weingarten Rights.

MNPEA Attorney's will accompany you to Internal Affairs and will assist you in if you are involved in a Critical Incident.

If you get a letter to appear in Internal Affairs call 651 287-8883. DO NOT GO ALONE our attorney will accompany you. You have this right under Article 34 of our Agreement and under Weingarten.

If you are involved in a Critical Incident call 651 287-8883. DO NOT GIVE A STATEMENT WITHOUT YOUR LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

Our Business Agent is Mike Golen. You can reach him at 612 817-6042.

Arbitration Date

A date has been set for contract arbitration on October 4, 2012 at 9:30 AM for Hennepin County Detention Deputies, Techs and Radio.

After an overwhelming rejection of the County offer we will be arbitrating the 2012 Step Increases and the 2012 Cost of Living Adjustment.

The 2013 1.5% Cost of Living Raise and Steps were agreed upon.

Message from MNPEA business agent Mike Golen

This is a repost:

Michael Sharon Berg-GolenMinnesota Public Employees Association "mnpea"

It is with a very somber heart that I make this report. Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney returned the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) candidate response form on Friday. He said that he didn't believe that Police, Corrections and Essential Services should have the right to work under contracts. FOP President Gary Cayo and I spoke yesterday and there is a growing mood of discontent with the direction The Republican Party has taken both Nationally and State by State. The Conservative Values that many of us grew up with and hold dear no longer seem to be the values of The Republican Party. I urge you to get involved with your local caucus whether you're a Republican or a Democrat. This is not an Endorsement, it is a Call To Arms. To Work In Law Enforcement Umbrella Jobs Without A Contract and Due Process Would Be A Disaster. Both for the staff and the public we serve. A Government that turns against it's soldiers is a Ship Of Fools. WE are the Patriots. WE are the Front Line Army. This message is from me, Mike Golen, Director of MNPEA and is intended as my personal opinion. All MNPEA Members are encouraged to speak their own mind. Their opinions are respected regardless of my opinion, other Board Member's opinions or the opinions of other members.

Many State Legislators think public employees still get too much!

The Associated Press is reporting (full story):

"Sen. Mike Parry of Waseca said he called the hearing in St. Paul to examine new union contracts for state employees..."

"The new contracts negotiated by state officials and the unions contain a 2 percent raise for all state workers starting in January and higher out-of-pocket payments for health care. Some employees are eligible for additional pay increases of up to 3.5 percent based on their level of experience. The state would continue to pay full health insurance premiums for employees and 85 percent for dependents. AFSCME and MAPE members ratified the contracts last month.

Republicans on the panel said they wanted to delve into contract details in an effort to cut spending and restructure government. Sen. Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake, said she had hoped state negotiators would have pushed harder to save money."

The problem is that the contracts for State public employees were voted on and accepted by both sides and now

 "the subcommittee on employee relations... has the power to temporarily approve or reject the contracts for more than 27,000 workers represented by AFSCME Council 5 and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees. The panel's decision stands until the full Legislature can vote on the contracts next year. The two-year contracts run through June 2013."

In other words this committee is holding up signing a negotiated contract until 2013! The state workers have had more years of wage freezes then us. 

These politicians have no qualms about freezing wages, steps or even delaying signing negotiated contracts no matter how much public employees are hurt. The State workers even lost 3 weeks pay during the last shut down.

I hope they strike, their contract expired last Dec. 31st.