Mediation thoughts

On January 6, 2016,  MNPEA will again sit down at Mediation with Hennepin County.

I have sat in that chair many times over the years. It is a tough one. I want to thank the Stewards for their hard work. I know there are differences, as there should be, but the goal is the same to get the best contract for our members. 

I want to thank our attorney Joe Ditsch. I have sat with him at grievance hearings and in I.A. (Listen to the song). He is a good, knowledgeable guy and a man I would always want in my corner. He has a much less confrontational demeanor than yours truly! So he can be very persuasive with the jail Major and Labor Relations.

I want to thank our B.A. Dave Deal. He is a good honest man, and has a tough job dealing with our boss and county. Not to mention us cantankerous members!

The toughest part about contract negotiations with Hennepin County is that they settle with AFSCME first. In Minnesota we have, "patterned" bargaining. If the largest group, AFSCME, settles first, most arbitrators will uphold the pattern. I don't care what Union you are in, that is the reality.

It is frustrating as hell to seemingly bang your head into a wall trying to get something more or different from the county than what AFSCME got. I think Joe is the right attorney for that job.

About six years ago we left Teamsters for the MNPEA. I think it was a smart move. While, like the Teamsters, we still are stuck with the AFSCME pattern, MNPEA actually has our back.

Our attorneys, unlike any other Union are accessible to all members. No other Union gives you on and OFF duty coverage!

Yes, I've had a few disagreements over the years with the Union. It's the nature of the beast. But what I want to say is thanks to all of you for doing the hard, thankless work.

Hopefully we will have a contract to vote on after Mediation. I know how much work goes into it.