Oak Park Heights MCF CO Parise ruled a homicide

The death last month of Oak Park Heights CO Joe Parise has been ruled a homicide,

In other Oak Par Heights news, 2 CO's were hospitalized yesterday after an altercation with 2 inmates.

The Star Tribune article goes on to say that the inmates involved were placed in restrictive housing  and Oak Park Heights is on lock down.

Let's hope the 2 inmates don't get the early release treatment from seg MCF OPH has been famous for lately.

Officer safety should be the top priority.

Full Cost of Living Raise for PERA CO's

Good news.

Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% Cost of Living raise in 2019.

PERA CO's COLA is tied to the Social Security cost of living increase-100% of Social Security COLA capped at 2.5%.

This means PERA Correctional Plan Retirees will receive the full 2.5% increase in 2019.

Never forget Teamsters Local 320, AFSME and LELS had all agreed to a lower cap (1.5%) without ever consulting their members!

Teamsters Local 320 Attack on Corrections Officer Pension

Correctional Pension in Danger!

Fellow Detention Deputies and C.O.'s. As I reported in a previous post Teamsters Local 320 is making it a priority to add NON-ESSENTIALS to our pension.

Here's the link to their bill: http://www.scribd.com/doc/181422645/Report-to-Pension-Commission

If HF No. 884 and Senate No. 998 are passed it will add 1,973 non-essentials to our pension.

Consider: The correctional pension was passed because we have the highest injury rate of ANY public safety job class. Higher injury rates then police and fire. Our pension required 95% inmate contact for a job class to be eligible. If weakened to allow non-essentials with virtually non-existent inmate contact and non-existent assaults from inmates we will be in danger of being dumped back into the coordinated plan.

Consider: Probation officers make up to $90,000 a year. This means their payout from OUR pension will be greater than the C.O.'s it was created for.

Consider: With the higher required payouts to non-essential probation officers OUR pension contribution could increase about 2%. This would mean a 2% pay-cut in take home pay, with NO increase in our benefit.

Consider: If passed we may never get an increase in our pension benefit because higher payouts will be going to higher paid non-essentials.

It is important to stop this in it's tracks.

CONTACT YOUR STATE REPS NOW. FIND THEM HERE AND CONTACT THEM:

 Who Represents me?

Don't let corrections traitor Brian Aldes and Teamsters Local 320 ruin our pension.

Corrections traitor Brian Aldes, lower right

Watch your addresses, again.

Remember when AFSCME "organizers" got our addresses and showed up at our doorsteps? Well my Teamster insiders tell me 320 just hired a new organizer. 

Don't be surprised if they use the same list AFSCME scumbags and pedophiles used to show up at our houses. 

If they show up, ask their names and ask how they got your address. Don't sign anything. It isn't to get more information (as they'll say), it's to authorize a decertification vote. 

If you want to know what Teamster organizers are like contact our new MNPEA members, the Sherburne County C.O.'s.

Of course there's always what happened to the Memphis Tennessee P.D. at the hands of Teamsters:

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office, Everson accepted $5,000 in the form of a check drawn on the account of a Teamsters local to provide and help install hidden surveillance cameras at a youth camp run by the rival Fraternal Order of Police.  FULL STORY AP

If they show up, let me know. They play a lot dirtier than the AFSCME amateurs, but something tells me they are working together for now.

What they don't get is that the best "organizers" are happy members. Take care of them, and the rest falls into place.

Remember, these are the guys trying to weaken our pension!

Teamsters to MNPEA, Lest Ye Forget

page 17, 2011 IBT Delegates

There's a lot of hand wringing going on about the MNPEA "raiding" Teamsters and AFSCME groups. How did this come about?

To the left you see WHO the Teamsters Local 320 Delegates were to the 2011 Teamsters International Convention. The names you see BEAT the Sue Mauren Slate, Secretary Treasurer of Local 320. They ran as the Anyone But Hoffa Slate, and won.

Yes, members, it can be done.

You will notice that some of the delegates are now officers of the MNPEA, Dave Deal and Mike Golen,  Some of the other delegates like Wade Laszlo and Carol Orcutt are now members of bargaining units that have left Teamsters for the MNPEA. 






How did this begin? What was the catalyst?

At the 2009 Steward training there was a MNTLEL meeting. The topic of discussion was the Correctional Pension. We voted and decided that the priority should be a raise in the benefit, which hadn't been raised since its' inception, and to get a corrections officer on the PERA board.

Instead, Mike Carey and Erik Skoog decided that correctional officers being  licensed was to be the priority. Union Steward Dave Deal was part of MNTLEL and was never consulted. Angered by the repeated ignoring of member votes by Local 320's leadership, Dave Deal ran a slate, the Members for a Better Union Slate, against Sue Mauren's Unity Slate, in the local board election. Sue Mauren's slate won, but then quickly turned on the members who dared to run against Sue and those who supported them. 

You can read some of their bullshit here, Teamsters Local 320 Election Result, it documents some of their personal attacks on members like me, who voiced support for Deal in the election.

This catalyst of ignoring members, then turning on them for exercising their rights as dues paying members resulted in several of us running against the Hoffa supporting Sue Mauren slate in the 2011 Delegate Election. We sought to represent the members of Local 320 as Delegates to the 2011 International Brotherhood of Teamsters Convention. We ran as the Anyone But Hoffa Slate, and as you see on the attachment, we won. Unlike other years, Local 320 did not picture us on their magazine or publish widespread who won. To this day many don't know Sue Mauren even lost to us.

The election was ugly and Sue Mauren's slate cheated. The Federal Elections Supervisor found their slate in violation of elections rules. They used Brian Aldes', non-union, brother in law's business, Razworks, to to make a free website for their slate. Sue Mauren was found guilty by Election Supervisor, Richard Mark. 

You can read it here: http://www.ibtvote.org/protests/2010/2011esd087.htm  She was forced to pay for the website and post this message for 30 days on their slate's website:

Richard W. MarkElection Supervisor
The Election Supervisor has found that Sue Mauren and the Mauren slate violated the Election Rules by accepting web design and hosting services for the Mauren website from Razworks LLC, a commercial web design and hosting service. Campaign contributions from non-members are strictly prohibited by the Rules. The Election Supervisor has directed Mauren to pay Razworks its usual and customary charges for the services provided and to cease using non-member contributions to campaign.

The Election Supervisor has issued this decision in Laszlo, 2010 ESD 87 (January 27, 2011). You may read this decision at http://www.ibtvote.org/protests/2010/2011esd087.htm.

You can read more about Mauren's and Hoffa's corrupt campaigns here.

A Federal Elections Supervisor ended up having to supervise Local 320's delegate election to ensure fairness. With Federal oversight at the ballot count, the Anyone But Hoffa Slate won. Interesting is the fact that many of the same people on the winning slate had lost in the local election just weeks earlier. It made many of us question the legitimacy of 320's local board election.

The convention was outrageous. Watch videos of Hoffa supporters here, including delegates walking out as Fred Gegare was nominated:
http://detentionhome.blogspot.com/2011/07/teamsters-local-320-delegates-at-ibt.html

At the convention we succeeded in our goals of getting Fred Gegare and Sandy Pope on the national ballot to challenge Hoffa.. Hoffa won the national election.

Having lost faith in the Teamsters to represent their members, some of the Anyone but Hoffa slate and their supporters formed the MNPEA. A labor organization dedicated to representing the members, not over paid so called "labor leaders." Many of  Teamsters large corrections  bargaining units decertified Teamsters to join the MNPEA.  Groups like Hennepin County Detention Deputies and Washington County Corrections.  You can see  MNPEA's groups here at http://mnpea.com/

In a strange turn of events, Teamsters Local 320 is once again working against corrections officers! You will remember that the initial catalyst of the strife was their unwillingness to support the corrections officers with their pension. Now they are working against corrections officers by proposing letting non-essential probation officers and security guards into it!

I'd like to make one final point. The Anyone But Hoffa Slate people who left for the MNPEA are not anti-labor or even anti-Teamsters. We were the reformers who won in the delegate election, we believe in labor and are proud of the labor movement's and Teamsters' history. We simply believe that the current Teamsters structure and  leadership has lost the way paved by great men like Jim Hoffa Sr. They no longer represent members, just themselves. 

The Thunder and Lightning has left for the MNPEA.

P.S. If any reader has any doubts as to my former loyalty to the Teamsters over the years scroll back through the history of this blog. Local 320 leadership caused the rift. At the end of the day the members are most important, and if one labor organization has forgotten who represents who, then it's time to move on to one that will.

Why we left Teamsters and joined MNPEA

There's a lot of propaganda being spread about MNPEA by Afscme and the Teamsters. Those of you seeking to leave the dinosaur unions for MNPEA might find our experience helpful in making your decision.

Watch the video I made in September of 2011 while we were in the decertification process. It states  why the Hennepin County Detention Deputies, Telecommunicators and Techs were leaving the Teamsters for MNPEA. Some of what happened to us might be happening to you. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

AFSCME scumbag Ryan Hanson

Remember when AFSCME obtained our addresses and sent pedophiles to our homes? The dirtbag who started the ball rolling was Ryan Hanson, AFSCME organizer.

Well I made a Freedom of Information Act request and here's the answer I got from Hennepin County:

Pursuant to your data request from our office, please see the information below:

1.       Who made the request from the County or Sheriff’s Office.

a.      The request was made to Hennepin County Human Resources by Ryan Hanson.  

2.       The date of the request.

a.      The request was made in late May 2013 and the information was provided on June 5, 2013.

3.       A copy of everything that was provided for them.

a.      I have attached an electronic copy of the information provided to Mr. Hanson.

Here's his contact info:

Phone: 

(651) 287-0588

I have NEVER heard of a Union obtaining the names and home addresses of Corrections Officers before and then visiting their homes. Of course all AFSCME has is lies and bullshit. How many members do you have left in Wisconsin Ryan? How many Minnesota members have already left for MNPEA?

Just keep working with the recycled lies of Teamsters and Met Council member Ed Reynoso and keep losing members. And good luck at your third attempt at the Bureau on the 14th. It didn't work when the Arrowhead Regional Corrections and the City of Jordan left AFSCME and it won't work now.

Welcome East Bethel and White Bear Lake PD

Welcome City of East Bethel Public Employees and White Bear Lake PD to the MNPEA family. 

As an aside I find it interesting that over one year after we left Teamsters Local 320 they continue weird online attacks against me on their websites. 

If they spent more time servicing their members and less time attacking former members maybe they wouldn't keep losing groups like East Bethel. 

MNPEA Bargaining Units

This is a list of all of the bargaining units who have joined MNPEA. Check back as this list is growing!

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

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

Rice County Deputies

Rice County Sgts

Sibley County Sheriff, Essentials

University of Minnesota Police

Washington County Corrections & Dispatch

White Bear Lake Police

Wilkin County Deputies

Wilkin County Corrections & Dispatch

Winthrop Police

Welcome newest MNPEA members!

I'd like to welcome aboard the two latest groups to join MNPEA:

The Arrowhead Regional Corrections Board, Essential Employees and the Hutchinson Police Officers.

Contract Update

Today, October 4, 2012 an arbitration hearing was held between the Hennepin County Detention Deputy, Telecommunicator, Detention Tech and Evidence Specialists bargaining unit represented by the Minnesota Public Employees Association (MNPEA) and Hennepin County.

Representing MNPEA were MNPEA attorneys Rob Fowler and Jonathan Kesselman.

Representing the County was Attorney Greg Failor.

I will make this very brief. The Employers position is that the majority of the labor groups, Teamsters Local 320 and AFSCME settled for the Employer offer of nothing but a $500 check for 2012 (making three consecutive years of nothing). Keep in mind most of these are non-essential groups.

The MNPEA position is that we’ve done our part accepting years of wage freezes, but now we are out of line with the market. Hennepin County Detention Deputies work the biggest, busiest and most dangerous jail in the state yet we are DEAD LAST in starting pay in the seven county metro-area and Ramsey County, our closest counter part, tops out at $5.62 an hour more then us!

We are asking for Steps, a 1.5% market adjustment, a 1.5% Cost of Living raise and Retroactivity for 2012.

Both sides must have their briefs in by October 25^th and the Arbitrator has 30 days after that to make her decision.

I’ve been a union steward for years and I must say Rob Fowler made the best presentation for the members I have ever seen. While there are no guarantees what the Arbitrator will decide, I believe we have a very good chance.

In solidarity,

Wade Laszlo

Freeborn County, First MNPEA Victory

Congratulations Freeborn County Sheriff's Patrol Sergeants!


On October 13, 2011 the Freeborn County Sheriff's Patrol Sergeants became the first group to become members of MNPEA!


There are more then a dozen other groups poised to do the same in the next few weeks!

Letter from the FOP regarding Teamster attacks on MNPEA attorney Rob Fowler

Members Of The Minnesota Fraternal Order Of Police:

As some of you know, our general counsel Robert Fowler has been working hard to add membership to our organization. He is general counsel to a new labor union, MNPEA, that will bring roughly 250 officers into the FOP and our Legal Defense Plan (LDP) this year alone. MNPEA is not officially affiliated with the FOP - we remain unaffiliated with any labor group, but MNPEA will be offering to it's sworn law enforcement members the FOP's LDP. Many of the bargaining groups being brought into MNPEA are from the Teamsters.

Recently, bulk emails were sent out by a group sponsored by Teamsters 320 that is trying to discredit MNPEA's Business Agents and our own FOP Attorney. The emails state Mr. Fowler was fired from his previous employer and has been accused by the MN Attorney General's Office for stealing money from the FOP. I understand that any labor group has a right to maintain their membership numbers, but I take exception to this false accusation. Fowler's contract with the FOP started in 2005.

We have always had a system in place where we pay Mr. Fowler a flat rate for each LDP member, plus an annual vehicle allowance that started several years ago. He has never had access to our bank accounts or finances. Paul and I can say with absolute certainty that Rob Fowler has never stolen money from our organization - that would be impossible.

As your President, I contacted the AG's Office and even though they could not comment directly on this accusation, I was told that their office "would not investigate this type of complaint". I can also state with certainty that Mr. Fowler was not fired from his previous law job with Pat Kelly's Office, this was acknowledged during the bidding process for the FOP contract.

We are concerned because these false emails could cause our own members to question whether our organization or legal defense plan are worthwhile. Our legal defense plan and the services offered by our attoney are without question invaluable, and Mr. Fowler has always maintained high integrity. Please forward this out to your fellow lodge members and correctly inform anyone in your workplaces who may have heard this type of false misinformation. Let them know that the accusations are false.

As President, I also feel that you should know that there is a new labor union option out there. Mr. Fowler is MNPEA's general counsel so you will be assured quality legal representation. We have had some issues in the past with Teamsters coming close to crossing the line into FOP matters, and I feel that this latest attack clearly does cross that line. I feel you should question whether representation by Teamsters is appropriate for you, as law enforcement officers, when such clearly false and defamatory accusations are being made against our FOP attorney.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and feel free to contact Treasurer Dooley or myself if you have questions.

Gary Cayo
MN FOP President

Paul Dooley
MN FOP Treasurer

Vote for Fred Gegare this week!

You should receive a ballot from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters this week for the general election. I encourage you to vote, and to vote for the Fred Gegare slate. I was a delegate to the 2011 Teamsters Convention and fully support him and his entire slate.


My, our beef, is with Teamsters Local 320 not the International. Yes, we are in the process of decertifying 320, they won't have a local election for two years and we can't take another two years of their abuse. Give a gift to our brothers and sisters in the labor movement, vote in someone who wants to return the power of the Teamsters to the members. Hoffa needs to go!


By the way, thank you Teamsters local 320, because you "protested" the list of names provided to the Bureau of Mediation Services we will all still be able to vote in the Teamsters General election!

320 Begs You to Stay

MAINTENANCE OF STATUS QUO ORDER

Decertification Video

NOTICE

On September 6th, 2011

CARDS WERE FILED WITH THE BUREAU OF MEDIATION SERVICES TO DECERTIFY TEAMSTERS LOCAL 320 AS THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HENNEPIN COUNTY DETENTION DEPUTIES, TELECOMMUNICATORS AND DETENTION TECHS AND TO CHOOSE THE MINNESOTA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION (MNPEA) AS THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE.


*The number of cards filed was an overwhelming majority.

Contract Proposals

Today I (and you) received a letter asking for contract proposals from our Business Agent of 5 months, Mike Carey.

Even though he has never come out to meet the rank and file members he did meet with all of the Stewards on May 4th. We were very straightforward.

At that meeting we asked that a copy of the contract be mailed to all of the members. He said it would be. It has not, yet you are now asked to make proposals on a contract many of you don't have a copy of.

On May 4th we also discussed the very contentious 28 day schedule and the shift survey we filled out. He told us that overwhelmingly 6/3 was the choice and he'd be sending a letter out to the members. That has not happened either.

At the end of the meeting Mike Carey said to me, "We have to make this work." When I got home a message about me was posted on the Internet (under one of 320's many aliases): LASZLO, JENSON AND DEAL CAN GO FUCK THEMSELVES! Posted at 1:29 PM, right as we were leaving the building.

On August 9th there was a step 2 grievance hearing with Hennepin County Labor Relations regarding the monitored sick time issue. Mr. Carey was not there.

He has however found the time to meet several times with management about the new dispatch center.

On August 4th I wrote him a very detailed letter asking several questions. He has not responded.

At the Teamsters Convention right before the State shutdown, Ed Reynoso our DRIVE representative (lobbyist) told me, one of your elected delegates, "Fuck You Wade" every time he saw me for the first three days of the convention. He never left the convention even when the State shut down! However he did write a full page article in the Joint Council 32 magazine about the shutdown as if they gave a rats ass.

Maybe the folks we pay to represent us should find the time to mail out copies of the contract, address the shift preference survey, and answer the questions asked in the letter. Unless of course they are too busy attacking members on the Internet.

You cowards like to hide behind fake ID's on the Internet, I challenge you to answer this using your real names.

Teamsters had a big drive this summer to "Stop the War on Workers." Maybe Teamsters Local 320 should stop the war on its' members.

You can reach your Business Agent Mike Carey at mcarey@teamsterslocal320.org or call him at 612/378-8727