Pro Labor Sen. Franken w/vets

TB in local jails

Ex-inmate's suit says jail ignored TB signs

In a federal lawsuit filed Monday, the claimant alleges that Ramsey County jail staff ignored obvious symptoms, leaving him disabled.

Full Story: Star Tribune

Happy Veteran's Day

Thank You!

Hoffa Opposes Tax on our Healthcare

Teamsters President James Hoffa estimates that the tax would affect the health care plans of "hundreds of thousands" of his 1.4 million members.

"We oppose the excise tax because it will be passed on to our people," Hoffa told POLITICO. "We will oppose it in the Senate. We will oppose it in the House. We will oppose it in conference."

Go Hoffa!

Read more: http://www.pittsburghpost-gazette.com/pg/09280/1003592-473.stm#ixzz0WKEo5RIs

Possible Layoffs at the Workhouse!

The following was sent to me by their Chief Steward:

There has been a proposal that will be at this budget meeting to close the Work Release building at the ACF and put most of the inmates on Home Monitoring. If this occurs and it is not put back in the budget on Dec. 3 there will be lay offs of Senior Correctional Officers, Correctional Officers, Food Service Workers and Clerical staff. Please pass this on to anyone who may be able to attend.

Thanks,

Dean

They are rallying at the Government Center on Nov. 19th. I'd encourage all of you that can to assist our fellow Correctional Officers.

Here's their Flyer:

Important Public Safety
Meeting On:

Thursday November 19th -- 1 PM to 4 PM

At the Hennepin County Government Center
In the Commissioners Board Room on the 24th Floor.

Local 1719 will pay your Parking and Mileage for members to attend.

Wear Green.
Or
Wear your Uniform. YES, it is okay to wear your uniform.

Make your presence known!!!

Whether you live in Hennepin County or Not,
attend this meeting to show your loyalty to the ACF and that you care about Public Safety and the Community.
We should see Officers, Supervisors, management, Clerks, Probation Officers, civilian staff...
everyone should show up to this Public Meeting.
Notify your family, friends, and neighbors as well.
And don’t forget to call the Commissioners in the mean-time.

Hennepin County's Offer

Here's the low lights of the County's offer to us:

Cost of living raise: 0% for 2010 and 2011

No step increases for 2010 and 2011 (What I find particularly insulting about this is that "steps" were originally a way to save the employer money by not having to pay you what the job is worth for a few years. Fine eliminate the steps and pay everyone top pay!)

Health Care to go up. Higher co-pays, singles to pay $50 a month, family monthly rate to stay the same. The usual passing the cost onto us at the same time they won't even offer a cost of living raise. Can you say, "Shrinking check?"

They offer $150 lump sum fee for 2010 and 2011 to employees making less then $18.00 an hour. Like that's going to make up for freezing your wages!

Freeze Stability Pay for 2010 and 2011. We all know this isn't a freeze but a fucking take back!

NEW: Limited Duration Appointments. "A non-permanent appointment which is expected to last less than two (2) years, including employees whose work schedules are non-continuous or irregular in nature. Such appointments may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director." Are you kidding me? This is just abuse waiting to happen.

So there you have it. My editorial comments are in red.

We are considered essential employees. Essential to Hennepin County simply means you can't strike and they can change your schedule at will! They offer us the same plate of shit they offer everyone else. Two contracts ago we voluntarily accepted a "once in a lifetime" wage freeze. Since then how many of us have been bit by inmates, punched, kicked, spit on? How many have turned positive for tuberculosis? All of us worked a very long stretch, some as many as 15 days straight, of 12 hour days during the RNC. Our thanks? The 28 day schedule that disrupted our lives and this bullshit offer. I'm sorry, do I sound pissed off?

Why Union's Need Lobbyist!

This is exactly the reason Union's need a presence at the Capitol like DRIVE.

The Star Tribune is reporting:

WASHINGTON - Those tax-free spending accounts that you and your co-workers use to help pay for dental work, insurance copayments or over-the-counter drugs face a hit under the health overhaul bills in Congress — unless a coalition that includes a powerful union, insurers and others can stop it.