Hennepin County Initial Offer

This is the County's initial offer. Obviously not something we'd sign on to. We are filing for Mediation tomorrow. We meet again on November 12th.

An Open Letter to Hennepin County Workhuse CO's

Fellow CO's at the Hennepin County Workhouse,

Thanks for the effort. The members have spoken. I only hope you have learned that the essential workhouse CO's DO NOT have to bargain with the non-essential clerks. 

Demand of your Union that they allow you to bargain as essentials or the outcome may be different next time.

Ramsey County makes $4 an hour more than us. Why? AFSCME forces you to bargain as non-essentials and you get stuck with clerks raises. 

Then the county hits us with, "the pattern is set." This happens year after year until Hennepin County Detention Deputies and Corrections Officers are the lowest paid in the 7 county metro area. We need to stand together.

The MNPEA Detention Deputies are asking for a market adjustment (parity with Ramsey Co.), and a 3% COLA for 2014 and 2015. Our Union is willing to take this to arbitration. Demand the same of yours.

Why would AFSCME never once arbitrate your contract? Why did they let you fall to dead last in compensation? They know you can't strike, so why not arbitrate?

Remember, your Union should work for you, not the other way around.

Good Luck,

In solidarity,

Wade

Public Safety Salary Comparison

This is a list of Public Safety Salaries I've composed. I will list them from highest to lowest paid. All salaries are 2012 compensation. *

2012 pay

1.  Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek                                                         $151,102
2.  Hennepin County Community Corrections Director, Thomas Merkel           $144,943
3.  Ramsey County Sheriff, Matt Bostrom                                                       $135,630
4. Minneapolis Police Chief  Janee Harteau                                                     $126, 155
5. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton                                                                     $119, 850
6. Minnesota State Patrol Chief, Kevin Daly                                                   $114,721
7. Minn. Commissioner of Corrections, Tom Roy                                            $112,126

* source for salaries: http://extra.twincities.com/car/salaries/default.aspx


Commentary: As you can see Hennepin County pays it's Public Safety "CEO's" the highest salaries in the State. At the same time their Public Safety employees are the lowest paid in the 7 County Metro Area.

Why? The anonymous comment on the previous post, Hennepin County vs Ramsey County Detention, holds the key. The anonymous comment stated, "Wade, the Sheriff gets the same raises that all non-exempt employees get (basically the standard as the AFSCME clerical union sets). Which ultimately is the standard that is set for basically all of us." (Bold emphasis mine).

Hennepin County has had a cozy relationship with AFSCME for decades. They settle with the non-essential clerical and then say, "The pattern is set," and impose that settlement on everyone, including essential employees. 


AFSCME has NEVER allowed it's Hennepin County Adult Corrections essential employees to bargain separate from the clerical. This cozy little AFSCME arrangement has led to Hennepin County essential employees being dead last in pay in the metro area by accepting non-essential contract settlements. 


I doubt the State Patrol Troopers bargain with their clerks!

My opinion is that AFSCME has been complicit in keeping down essential employee pay. It is time for this to end.

More Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Spending

In this contract negotiation season I'd like to highlight some more of the HCSO's budget priorities.

Former WCCO reporter Kiava

The Star Tribune is reporting that PIO (Personal Information Officer) Lisa Kiava just got promoted to "Communication Diretctor". The Henepin County Sheriff's Office will pay her $44 an hour, $91,000 a year for this newly minted position.

Former KDLT Anchor Johnson

And they filled the vacant PIO position with former Sioux Falls,KDLT news anchor Jennifer Johnson. Her STARTING pay is $28 an hour, $58,000 a year. That's a starting salary of $1.00 an hour more than top Detention Deputy pay. 

And let's not forget the $30,000 the HCSO just spent on gun lockers for all of the Licensed Deputies handguns. 

Readers feel free to forward more items to this blog.

Hennepin County vs Ramsey County Detention

 This is a comparison between Hennepin County and Ramsey County. It will compare salaries of their respective Sheriffs and Detention Deputies. 

 Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek

Salary: $151,102 in 2012
 (up from $145,181 in 2008)

Hennepin County Detention Deputy pay:

Start $17 an hour. Top *$27 an hour after 8 years

*Hennepin  froze steps and wages for 5 years ending in 2013.

Vacation: 23 days after 18 years

Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Bostrom

Salary: $135, 631 in 2012

Ramsey County Detention Deputy pay:

Start $22 hr, $31hr at 5 years, top at 20 years $34 hr

Vacation: 25 days after 18 years

Hennepin County Jail Capacity: 839 beds

Ramsey County Jail Capacity: 500 beds


Things to consider:

Why did the Hennepin County Sheriff's pay go up $6,000 in a four year period Detention Deputy wages were static?

Why does the Ramsey County Sheriff make $16,000 a year less than the Hennepin County Sheriff, while Ramsey County Detention Deputies make an average of $4 an hour more than Hennepin County Detention Deputies?

My opinion is it's priorities. Ramsey County places a higher emphasis on employee attraction and retention. Hennepin County places a higher priority on department heads.

Even the schedule at the Ramsey County jail is employee friendly, four 8 hour days on, 2 off. The schedule's details are spelled out in the contract.

Hennepin County Detention Deputies suffer a 28/8 schedule where days off are bid, and they refuse to put into contract the rules for the schedule.

If Hennepin County is interested in better employee retention they would consider  higher pay for the biggest busiest, most dangerous jail in Minnesota (currently Hennepin County pay is dead last in the 7 county metro area) and actually putting the rules for the schedule into the Contract.

We await Hennepin County's counter offer on October 29th.

Berntson Family Help Needed

On March 15th 2012, Detention Sergeant Brad Berntson, died after being bitten by an HIV positive inmate. The side effects from the anti-viral medications killed him. 

It has yet to be declared what it is, a death in the line of duty, by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. As a result his widow and family have a greatly reduced death benefit.

His family needs help with yard clean-up to sell the house. On Saturday October 26th at 9 AM they are needing people to help with yard work.

If you are able to help email Brad Laudert at bjlaudert@msn.com for a head count (food will be served) and directions. 

Contract Talks Update

We meet again with Hennepin County on October 29th to receive their proposal. Our position is resolute. We need a market adjustment and a cost of living raise in addition to steps.

Hennepin County Detention Deputies and our counterparts at the Workhouse ARE THE LOWEST PAID IN THE 7 COUNTY METRO AREA!

This is unacceptable. A Ramsey County Detention Deputy starts at $22 an hour. A Hennepin County one starts at $17. At 5 years a Ramsey County Detention Deputy is at $31 an hour. Hennepin tops out at $27 an hour after 8 years, that is if there wasn't the 5 years of wage freezes we just had. Ramsey tops at $34 an hour.

We are the biggest busiest jail in the upper Midwest and the only ACA accredited jail in Minnesota, which means shit when it comes to more wages. It only means we get hours and hours of more training than our better paid counterparts.

Well, Hennepin County had better have a serious offer or this steward won't think twice about going to arbitration. After all, the only mint left on the pillow after we got screwed last time, was that we can compare ourselves to Ramsey County, and we will.

I hope the Workhouse gets on board and doesn't get stuck bargaining as clerical, instead of essential as AFSCME always does to them.

County Postpones 2 year old sick time arbitration

Dear members,

Hennepin County has obtained a continuance of our 2 year old sick time grievance. It was slated for October 22nd, now it's kicked back to December or January. 

They had a list of arbitrators over a year ago when we had our last contact arbitration. It sat and fucking sat.

Finally we got a date for October 22nd. Now, again, it's not happening. Meanwhile more and more of our members keep getting written up and placed on monitored sick leave. 

For two fucking years our grievance has remained unresolved.

The County cited the fact that 2 of their 3 Labor Relations staff have resigned, including the Labor Relations Attorney who handled grievance arbitration.

Well none of these resignations were overnight. Maybe if they didn't freeze their wages so many times, like ours, they wouldn't be leaving for better paying jobs like so many of our staff.

The County reminds the arbitrator that, "It should be noted that the case in question is a contract interpretation matter which does not involve a financial remedy or any back pay." 

Let me remind the County that it is costing our members time and money (co-pays) to be forced to go to the doctor in order to return to work after calling in sick. Let me remind the County that they are self insured and it is costing them a couple of hundred dollars every time we are forced to go to the doctor for a "note from mom." 

Everyday this contract violation goes unresolved it costs our members, the county and ultimately the taxpayers money. Money wasted on unnecessary healthcare costs.

Minneapolis Firefighters Union working against MNPEA

Dear members,

Currently AFSCME is attempting to remove at State level, the Minnesota Public Employees Association (MNPEA) right to represent members. A fight they have lost at the Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS) twice before.

They've also enlisted the help of other Unions in an attempt to eliminate our right to chose anyone but the usual large Corporate Unions. One such Union assisting them by writing letters disparaging the MNPEA is Minneapolis Firefighters Union Local 82 and their President Mark Lakosky.

This is a letter I sent to Minneapolis Firefighter Union Local 82 President Mark Lakosky:

Mr. Lakosky,

What is YOUR problem with my Union, the Minnesota Public Employees Association (MNPEA)? Why is the Fire Fighters Union getting involved in who other Union workers choose as their exclusive Representative? Why are you writing letters bad mouthing us?

I also remember when Police and Fire tried to prevent us Corrections Officers from getting our 55 retirement back in the late 90's.

Do fireman have a problem with corrections officers? Do we interfere with your Union or Pensions? No, but we could start if you want. I do believe your pension (Police and Fire) is in the red while ours (Correctional)  is in the black


http://detentionhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/mnpea-response-to-afscme-smack-talk.html

Wade Laszlo
Steward MNPEA

MNPEA response to AFSCME smack talk

Dear members,

AFSCME has been talking smack about us, claiming we're not a Union. Here's our MNPEA Business Agent's response:

Attention Minnesota Public Employees:

Because of our ongoing organizing of public groups in Minnesota there have been numerous rumors and statements originating from a couple of big unions about who we are, what we promise and what our service to members is. Here are some of the things being said and our response.

In a recent letter from the President of Local 82, AFL-CIO (MPLS Firefighters Union) he starts with the statement that MNPEA has been comparing itself to the AFL-CIO and AFSCME. Neither I nor the other Officers of MNPEA have ever compared ourselves to them. Why would we? They represent most of the things wrong with the Labor Movement in the 21st century. When I was President of Local 320 Teamster President James Hoffa, after years of requests from Teamster members and officers to leave the AFL-CIO, finally took a vote among the top two officers of all the Teamsters Locals. The desire was overwhelming to leave and we did. In the 34 years I've been involved in MN unions as a member, agent and officer, I have watched AFSCME roll over in contract negotiations time and again. Our members and many of theirs have voiced the same opinion. While the Teamsters left the AFL-CIO, they kept a non-raid pact with AFSCME or we would have had several of their groups cross over to Teamsters. Until MNPEA there has been a monopoly on most public jobs in MN by AFSCME and Teamsters.

He also stated that MNPEA doesn’t have political clout because we’re too small. MNPEA is already three times larger than the MPLS Firefighter Union. We haven’t had issues speaking with elected officials, their doors are open to us just like the others. The main difference is that we only endorse candidates if 70% or more of our members are in agreement. We report relevant information concerning political impact on their jobs to our members and let them decide who they want to support and/or vote for like adults. We don’t badger them with endless phone calls and mailings, wasting their dues money and time. Our members consider such behavior on the part of unions to be intrusive and insulting to their intelligence.

He then went on to say that people don’t have a voice with MNPEA and our 3 staff members. In fact our bylaws allow the members to over-ride Executive Board Decisions on grievances they want taken to arbitration if the Board isn’t recommending it! If 70% of the members in a bargaining unit want to arbitrate anyway we do it. He also said that we make promises we can’t keep! WE MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE CAN’T PROMISE BETTER CONTRACTS ETC, just that we’ll work harder and return all calls etc. What we do promise are $39 per month union dues through 2016 . No hidden costs. We invite Stewards to our Board meetings and if we ever need to raise dues they will be part of the decision process and we must have the members vote in the increase. We hold Steward elections after each contract is negotiated and approved by the members. The AFSCME groups up in the ARC that came to us were flabbergasted! All of the positions there were appointed under AFSCME!

Both Teamsters and AFSCME representatives have claimed that we aren’t elected. We started this association from scratch and are the first Executive Board Members. Our bylaws provide for elections just like theirs. All of the groups that have come to us elected to do so. That’s the process through the MN Bureau Of Mediation. Before I retired from Teamsters Local 320 myself, our President Dave Deal and several members ran against their Executive Board in the Teamsters Delegate Election in 2011 and WE WON! None of the 320 Board Members, Agents and members running with them got to go. WE represented the Teamster members at the convention. This had never happened to an existing Teamster Executive Board before. Change can be had if you have the courage and conviction to stand up, which we did and continue to do. Don’t let the big unions intimidate you, they’re not tough guys like some of them pretend to be unless lazy is the new tough LoL! You deserve better.

AFSCME is currently spending their member’s dues money paying several people to take off work and replacing their wages while they come out to places of work and member’s homes to spread lies about MNPEA. They are doing mailings, emails, home visits and phone calls 7 days a week. Many of the mailings and flyers have no author listed! Not much due process when anonymous letters and rumors lead the procession. The lies for the most part are down right childish. Silly things like your contract doesn’t go with you. You’ll lose your job. Anyone can call the MN Bureau Of Mediation, the State Agency that handles union and employer affairs, and ask them how things really work.http://mn.gov/bms/index.html Do you really want people that tell childish lies and slander instead of stepping up to the plate and making changes? We don’t go out and cold call groups. They contact us! For many years AFSCME and Teamsters have had a monopoly on Public Employees in MN. That is no longer the case and members all over are finding that out. We are being contacted all over the state.

One of the things big unions aren’t telling their members is how many paying members they have lost in Right To Work States. For example in Wisconsin AFSCME went from over 50,000 paying members to under 15,000! AFSCME wants to blame conservatives for their condition. NO! It’s the lack of service and the high monthly dues that are the downfall of big unions. We hear this constantly from workers calling us wanting to leave their outdated Neanderthal unions. Meanwhile Officers and Agents working for the big unions continue to receive multiple salaries and retirements. They continue to hold extravagant conferences around the country where they stay at fancy hotels with free drinks and food etc. It’s like the rats at the top are stealing everything they can before their ships sink.

We have a new vision for the 21st century instead of the archaic 1950s model the large unions use. 24/7 Legal Defense for our members and their spouses. Including not just Licensed Peace Officers but all public employee members! If a legal issue arises outside of work you call our attorneys. If your employer wants to question you and it can lead to discipline we send an attorney to represent you. We also have open financial dealings. Try to get the spending facts including “Miscellaneous Expenditures” from the big unions. It’s a very sad time in America when big union Executive Boards are corrupt as or worse than many corporate Executives Boards. Good luck to working Americans with that scenario.

You can chose to allow the same old same old or you can stand up and demand change. We are prepared to debate any big union officers, agents, employees etc anytime. Let them try to slander us and lie about us in a public forum. We’ll tell you what really goes on in these organizations and what they really do with your dues money and a whole lot more. Check us out at www.Mnpea.com.

Thank you for your time,
Mike Golen
MNPEA Director