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.