Friday, September 27, 2013

Contract Negotiations

Today we had the first round of contract negotiations.  MNPEA Detention Deputies, Techs and Radio gave our initial proposal today based on member input.

I will limit this blog primarily to the proposals for jail staff, but will upload the total proposal to our e-group (if you aren't on it email me to be added).

Art. 10 Work Schedules Premium Pay

-Raise shift differential. Nights & Weekends to $1.10 an hour


Sec. 11 Specialty Pay

- FTO pay to $3.00 an hour

-Specialty Pay. SRT, Court Staging, Release, Intake Control, Classification

-Policy change. 16 hour overtime limitation per week changed to 32 per pay period

Article 12 Vacations

-Raise top to 25 days per year (in line with the State)

Art. 13 Sick Leave

PTO "me too" with Workhouse Language

Art. 17 Salary Rates

3% Cost of Living  2014 and 2015 AND Market Adjustment
(We are dead last in the Metro Area and the biggest, busiest jail. By Comparison, Ramsey County Detention Deputies make $31 an hour after 5 years, $32 an hour at 10 years and $34 an hour after 20 years.)**SEE FOOTNOTE

Art. 34 Discipline & Discharge

add Oral Reprimands can be removed after 2yrs

**FOOTNOTE
The County Stated that Ramsey is an anomaly and not a comparison. However at our last contract arbitration,  Arbitrator Mary Jo Schiavoni stated:

Both Ramsey County and the state of Minnesota correctional employees are appropriate external comparisons. These are two large public employers located within the same geographic area. They are competitors for employees in the same labor market in which Hennepin County functions. All of the Met Council 7 County Metro counties are also appropriate 
for comparison purposes.



Monday, September 09, 2013

September Update

Contract negotiations begin for us on September 27th.

Arbitration is set for October 22nd for the Sick Time use grievance.

And the Afscme Corrections Officers at the Workhouse filed cards with the Bureau of Mediation Services to vote on a change of Representation. They want to join MNPEA. That means NEGOTIATIONS HAVE STOPPED FOR AFSCME, AT LEAST THE WORKHOUSE. This means AFSCME can't settle and set the pattern! It also means if the Workhouse CO's come over it  will never matter again what AFSCME settles for because the workhouse are essential employees like us.

Cards filed for Hennepin County Workhouse

Last week cards for an election for a Change of Representation were filed with the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services for the Hennepin County Adult Corrections Center. There was a super majority.

Hennepin County Labor Relations was sent a letter by the State of Minnesota. issuing an order of Status Quo. This means AFSCME cannot negotiate the contract, but must continue to represent in grievances and discipline.

What happens now?

The  Bureau of Mediation Services will send a ballot to every Corrections Officer in the bargaining unit. In the privacy of your home you will decide if you want to have the MNPEA as your Exclusive Representative or remain with AFSCME.

If the Corrections Officers at the Workhouse choose MNPEA, the current contract remains in FULL FORCE, despite AFSCME propaganda, and negotiations will resume with the MNPEA as your Representative.

Also for the first time ever to my knowledge, the Workhouse CO's will bargain as essential employees, not mixed with the non-essentials if the MNPEA is chosen.


Here's a list of current MNPEA groups:

Ada Police
Albert Lea Police
Arrowhead Regional Corrections, Essentials
Arrowhead Regional Corrections, Non-Essential
Blue Earth County Corrections & Sgts
Carver County Deputies
City of East Bethel
City of Jordan Clerical
Dakota County Corrections Supervisors
Edina Police Dispatchers
Faribault County Corrections & Dispatch
Freeborn County Deputies
Freeborn County Sgts
Glencoe Police
Hennepin County Corrections & Dispatch
Hutchinson Police
Lakeville Police
McCleod County Corrections & Dispatch
McCleod County Deputies
Mendota Heights Police Sgts
Mille Lacs County Sheriff, Supervisors
Norman County Sheriff, Essentials
Owatonna Police Corporals
Owatonna Police Sgts
Red Wing Police
Rice County Deputies
Rice County Sgts
Sibley County Sheriff, Essentials
St. Louis County Sheriff, Supervisors Unit
University of Minnesota Police
Washington County Corrections & Dispatch
White Bear Lake Police
Wilkin County Deputies
Wilkin County Corrections & Dispatch
Winthrop Police