March 15th Grievance Hearing

Today our attorney, a grievant and myself met with the employer for a Step 2 Grievance hearing regarding the 16 hour rule and the Tattoo issue.

16 Hour Grievance: This arose because a night shift deputy was written up for violating the 16 hour rule, when in reality he hadn't. As you know we are not allowed to work more than 16 hours of overtime in a seven day period.

He worked 16 hours between a Thursday and the following Wednesday. He then signed up and worked the first 4 hours on a Friday. Because a night shift begins at 10:30 PM and runs until 6:30 AM, the payroll system counted it as if he worked it on Thursday rather then Friday he signed up for. Never mind the same system correctly paid him for the same thing a couple of months ago.

Management has 10 days to make a decision. I think our case was well presented.

The Tattoo issue: There's nothing that doesn't make my stomach churn about this. The Union position is that this is a new condition of employment and therefore needs to be negotiated. Per our Agreement.

The employer position is that Sheriff Stanek has the right to set grooming standards, per a lawsuit Sheriff Omodt won in District Court in the 80's over mustaches and fingernails. Therefore they believe, the Sheriff has the authority, they won't hear the grievance and if we want to pursue it we can go to court.

The Union position is that Tattoos are not "grooming," and therefore should be negotiated as a condition of employment.

I did bring up our displeasure at the fact that the Detention Deputy they let go under the Tattoo policy was denied unemployment because the County told the State Unemployment Office she was "fired for misconduct." The County said that she has since appealed and is now receiving unemployment.

So here we stand.

Reminder:

The sheet to self nominate for a Union Steward Position is up on the bulletin board until March 23rd. Get involved!