Walmart's War On Workers

Arbitration Update

The arbitration for excessive discipline given for a misdemeanor DWI is moving ahead. The list of arbitrators should be picked in the next 2 to 4 weeks. Teamsters Local 320 has made this a priority. Our business Agent Tom Perkins said that it is being moved forward quickly because time off like this for a one time DWI is unprecedented and unheard of in ANY other jail. Our B.A. said that the Stanek administration was again given a chance to reduce the discipline and avoid arbitration.

Up Coming Events

MNTLEL Public Safety Stewards Training May, 6th.

Stewards call 612/378-8700 to reserve your spot. Location: Radisson Hotel, Roseville

Members 28 Day Informational Meeting.

May 7th 12:30 PM and 3PM at Broadway Pizza, Minneapolis (union members only, no fair share).

Making sense of chaos

The Sheriff's Admin and County Labor relations met with every bargaining unit in the Sheriff's Office to try to make some sense on how this is 28 day schedule to be implemented.

This was our Teamster input:

1. Days off must be primarily decided by seniority. To make things less burdensome for our newer employees everyone should be required to work at least one weekend a month. *Dog watchers who put in for 2 or more days off together should be granted those for recovery time. Also we asked that each member be given 2 "dot" days each 28 day period for days you absolutely have to have off, i.e. getting married, etc.

2. 8 hours work for 8 hours pay. Our day begins and ends in the locker room.

3. We expect the 1.5% inconvenient work schedule pay we gave up for our present holiday arrangement to be restored with the implementation of the 28 day schedule on May 24, 2009. Article 3, sections 2 and 3 of our Agreement.

4. We expect 10% of our staff to be allowed off on Vacation per day.

In addition,
*Because the schedule changed after the Prime Time Vacation bid, Prime Time Vacation for 2009 should be honored in the manner it has been implemented for the past 30 years. In other words the 3 days before and after Prime Time Vacation should be allowed as regular days off. OOOVVVVVVOOO

IMPORTANT: They will attempt to accommodate every one's off days they put in that are adjacent to their prime time vacation THIS year only. When we are able to submit our preferences it is vitally important that you write in the remarks section that this is part of your vacation

Federal Law-You Must Be Paid For Putting On Your Uniform

The Supreme Court unanimously upheld that you must be PAID for time spent putting on and off your uniform!

"Therefore, the time, no matter how minimal, that an employee is required to spend putting on and taking off gear on the employer’s premises is compensable “work” under the FLSA."

http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/FieldBulletins/AdvisoryMemo2006_2.htm

What is being done

(This is post has been rewritten to reflect what I'm putting out in a newsletter and cleaned up a bit. 4/4/09)

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is exercising their right under Article 10, section 3 of our Agreement to change our schedule from the current 6/3 to a 28 day, 8 hour schedule.

The Sheriff has decided to implement this schedule despite unanimous opposition. When asked if we could poll our members about alternate schedules they might prefer to this they responded with, "We are going to an 8 hour schedule and will entertain no other options."

The Administration has been told 8 hours work for 8 hours pay. By federal law our day BEGINS when we ENTER the locker room.

We will file for overtime every time we are relieved late.

*Their entire schedule is based on the belief you will show up early and stay late for free. They then take the half hour you now get paid for, you work it for free and they take that time and convert it into more work days for you. They want an 8 hour schedule with no overlap, give it to them!

We expect the 1.5% inconvenient work schedule pay we gave up 10 years ago to get the holidays the way they are to be restored now that management has changed the schedule.
We are stating that everyone must work at least one weekend a month. This will make it easier for everyone to get weekends off.

We are asking that dog watch deputies who put in for 2 or more days off together get them as they need recovery time.

We are setting up a meeting so we can earn and use comp time.

We got Chief Deputy Carlson to commit to allowing (10%) 6 off a shift for vacation.

This is how Holidays will work under their new schedule:

If you work a Holiday you get time and a half for that Holiday. You no longer bank or cash out deferred holidays, you must take a different day off during the SAME 28 day period. So for example if you work Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and the Day After Thanksgiving you would get time and a half for those three Holidays and HAVE to take 3 different days off that period, so you'd get 11 days off that period.

28 Day Schedule is coming

The 28 day/8 hour schedule is coming. The Sheriff's Office has said it will be implemented May 24, 2009. This is management's right under Article 10, Section 3 of our Agreement. This move has many implications on other parts of our Agreement and we will keep you posted.

The Union discussed the possibility of 10 hour shifts or 12 hour shifts on a 28 day schedule but management, "will not entertain other options" for us or any other bargaining unit at this time.

It was expressed unanimously by our business agent and all stewards that our members were not in favor of this change but it is their right and they are determined to go ahead with it.

Website updated up and running

Our Detention Home website is up and running. I've changed the look. Check it out.