Contract Update

Today, October 4, 2012 an arbitration hearing was held between the Hennepin County Detention Deputy, Telecommunicator, Detention Tech and Evidence Specialists bargaining unit represented by the Minnesota Public Employees Association (MNPEA) and Hennepin County.

Representing MNPEA were MNPEA attorneys Rob Fowler and Jonathan Kesselman.

Representing the County was Attorney Greg Failor.

I will make this very brief. The Employers position is that the majority of the labor groups, Teamsters Local 320 and AFSCME settled for the Employer offer of nothing but a $500 check for 2012 (making three consecutive years of nothing). Keep in mind most of these are non-essential groups.

The MNPEA position is that we’ve done our part accepting years of wage freezes, but now we are out of line with the market. Hennepin County Detention Deputies work the biggest, busiest and most dangerous jail in the state yet we are DEAD LAST in starting pay in the seven county metro-area and Ramsey County, our closest counter part, tops out at $5.62 an hour more then us!

We are asking for Steps, a 1.5% market adjustment, a 1.5% Cost of Living raise and Retroactivity for 2012.

Both sides must have their briefs in by October 25^th and the Arbitrator has 30 days after that to make her decision.

I’ve been a union steward for years and I must say Rob Fowler made the best presentation for the members I have ever seen. While there are no guarantees what the Arbitrator will decide, I believe we have a very good chance.

In solidarity,

Wade Laszlo