MNPEA Member Meeting

MNPEA MEETING

THURSDAY DECEMBER 13, 2012

6PM, FOOD WILL BE PROVIDED

2233 N Hamline Ave 
Suite 603 
PO Box 131143
Roseville, MN 55113

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. 

Perspective/Priorities

$2,000 a year in additional compensation for the Hennepin County Board, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman and Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek-No problem!


$417,000 for ONE vehicle for the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office-No problem!

$25,000,000 CASH for downtown office building-No problem!

Modest raise for Hennepin County Detention Deputies who have had no raise since 2008 and now are dead last in the area for starting wages in their field? DENIED! 

*The MNPEA asked for a 1.5% Market Adjustment, a 1.5% Cost of Living Raise and Steps for 2012..The total increase for the Detention Deputy bargaining unit would have come to only $143,298.

Hennepin County Artbitration Award

Congratulations Hennepin County on winning your Arbitration with the Detention Deputies, Techs, Dispatch and Crime Lab Techs. You have the honor of running the LARGEST, BUSIEST AND MOST DANGEROUS JAIL IN MINNESOTA AND HAVE THE DISTINCTION OF THE LOWEST STARTING PAY AND THE THIRD LOWEST TOP PAY!

This is the award from Arbitrator Mary Jo Schiavoni:   Arbitration Award 

There hasn't been a cost of living raise since 2008 and no step increases for new hires since 2010. This has caused us, the largest jail in Minnesota, to fall to dead last in starting pay and our people remain there for years! The MNPEA asked for a 1.5% Market Adjustment, a 1.5% Cost of Living Raise and Steps for 2012.

Some highlights:

While, the County acknowledges that it has the ability to pay, it argues that it 
should not have to pay given the state of its finances and the economy. The MNPEA 
argues that  the County cannot use the excuse of a weak economy to justify its zero 
percent offer when it weathered the recession with a budget surplus and growing cash 
reserves.  The previous history of wage freezes has moved Hennepin County to the 
lowest starting wage of any metro area county and it now ranks dead last compared to the 4
Met Council 7 County Metro counties in starting detention wages.


Some interesting findings of the Arbitrator are that,


There is no question that the County has the money to meet the MNPEA’s 
requested increases inasmuch as it would constitute a minor percentage of the County’s 
overall budget.

and,

Even recognizing that  four of the non-essential units have not settled for the 
County’s offer, four other essential units represented by AFSCME and Teamsters and 
independent units of Sheriff’s and Social Service Supervisors have accepted the wage 
freeze and $500 lump sum.  There are correctional employees in those bargaining units 
whose job positions are very similar, if not identical, to those of the Detention Deputy 
position in this unit.  It is difficult to conclude that the employees in this particular 
bargaining unit are entitled to more than those similarly situated from an equity 
standpoint.  This has established, as the County argues, a strong internal pattern favoring 
the County’s position.  

So the AFSCME Workhouse CO's and the TEAMSTER Juvenile Center CO's hurt everyone by rolling over, yet again! No wonder we left the Teamsters!


With respect to market  considerations in  recruiting and  turnover for this 
bargaining unit, the MNPEA has not been able to establish that the County is having any 
serious difficulty in the recruiting or retention of bargaining unit employees under the 
current wage schedule.

As of today 25% of the Detention Deputies hired a few short weeks ago have quit to work for better paying jobs in other departments!

So again, congratulations Hennepin County. I'm sure the results of this victory will be less staff, lower morale  and more overtime.

The estimated cost to Hennepin County for the MNPEA proposal was $143,298.  At a cost of about $25,000 to hire and train a new employee I'm sure that savings will be gone in a couple of months.

Let me put this in perspective. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office spent over $400,000 on one vehicle last year.

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.

The Problem With No Rules

We've been on the 28/8 day schedule for about 3 years now, and the confusion and problems continue. As a Union Steward I’d have to say more of our problems with management stem directly NOT from the actual schedule we were forced onto, but from the Sheriff’s Office REFUSAL to commit any rules to writing.

Currently there are two active grievances as a direct result of this.

Grievance one is because one of our members’ used a Vacation Day on his weekend to work, and he submitted it at the same time he submitted his 28 day schedule bid. The employer then took away a weekend off. Why? One of the jail Captains has an email out that states you can’t submit vacation for your weekend to work before the schedule is “locked.” However, there’s an email from an Inspector encouraging us to submit vacation when we submit our schedule! What does the contract say? Not a goddamned thing, because the Employer REFUSES to put any rules pertaining to our schedule in the contract! The contract is clear on Vacation though, it is not a Regular Day Off, but an earned benefit compensated as a workday, it should count as a workday.

Grievance two relates to Seniority and the 28 day bid. One of our members’ put in for December 26 and 27^th as days off. Those were denied him but given to 18 people with less seniority.  I, however, have an email from the Chief Deputy stating they would be going by seniority. But an email means nothing in absence of contract language.  At our last contract Arbitration under the Teamsters, we tried to get seniority language pertaining to the shift bid in the contract. The employer argued that they were already going by seniority and there was no need for the language. The arbitrator ruled in the employers favor because we were "so new" on the schedule at that time it needed time to shake out. 

The result of all of this is that the employer can, and does change the rules at will.

The 28 day schedule is also used by the Minneapolis Police Department. Their contract has LANGUAGE that spells out the rules. This makes it clear to both employer and employee what can and cannot be done. This is the schedule Sheriff Stanek and the Chief Deputy were familiar with. However when they forced it on us they were bound by none of the rules.

Each contract negotiation since then, we have sought to get contract language pertaining to the schedule and neither the Sheriff’s Office, nor our  Employer, Hennepin County has been willing. So we are left with a schedule whose rules change at the whim of the next email from a supervisor.

Is it any wonder employees are frustrated and leaving for other Departments? Is it any wonder morale is so low? Don’t blame the Union, several times the Sheriff’s Office has come to agreement on this schedule’s implementation and every time has changed the game citing Employers Right.  And that without ever consulting the Union that they were changing the rules, they just send an email or write a memo.

I’m not arguing they can’t have any schedule they want. I’m just asking for guidelines in writing. Like a Letter of Understanding between the Employer and the Union.  The Minneapolis Police Department had no problems doing this.

Rumor has it the Sheriff’s Office is surprised that the last four people who left cited the schedule as a major reason for leaving.  We told them it would be, but they didn't care until the job market opened up.My understanding is that twelve other people are being backgrounded for hire by other departments.Now they, according to rumor, are discussing among themselves what to do. Here’s an idea: Put the rules in a Letter of Understanding.

Or just keep humming along the way you are, frustrating both employees and scheduling Sergeants as they try to navigate the ever changing game.

Hell, even the inmates we supervise have the rules in writing.

The scheduling ball is in your court, as it always has been. If you don't want to commit the rules to writing, so be it, but quit blaming us for YOUR scheduling problems. But you've never really wanted our input anyways, I can still see the Chief Deputy pounding his fist on the table and telling us, "This is a not a negotiation, it is a notification. You are going to a 28/8 schedule and we will consider no other options." Well I guess they have kept one promise.

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

Overtime? Really Mr. Duschere?

Star Tribune reporter Kevin Duchschere had some recent articles in the Star Tribune about overtime amounts paid out by Hennepin County. In one article he reports that,

The Sheriff's Department paid out the most, $2.7 million, an increase of 13.6 percent. Transportation was second, paying out $1.1 million in overtime, a 9.4 percent increase.

In another  Tribune article entitled,

See who received overtime from Hennepin County in 2011

they list all of our salaries and overtime worked for 2010 and 2011. I'm not sure of the motive. I suspect it's the usual idea of making Public Employees look like thieves. But your own numbers show I made about $5,000 less in 2011 then 2010!

Sheriff Stanek responded with, "We're the third-largest department within Hennepin County, but we are one of only two 24/7 operations, 365 days a year," he said. "Our jail population is up 4 percent over last year, and we're on track to have more bookings than we've had the last couple years."

and went on to cite the fact that overtime was used on the Occupy protests, Safe Streets and the May tornado.  Mark your calendars kids, I agree with Sheriff Stanek.

I'll further elaborate in an effort to educate Kevin Duchschere. The jail population fluctuates. The more inmates, the more staff needed to process them, care for them and get them either to court, released, the Workhouse or prison. Let me spell it out, if we have 800 inmates we need more staff to care for them then when there are 600. As Sheriff Stanek has pointed out our jail population is up. 

Furthermore we are not a Soviet gulag. We are an ACA accredited jail that also has MANDATORY standards set by the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC). Mr. Duchshere there are mandatory staff to inmate ratios. These are not designed to line our pockets but to keep inmates safe.

So you see, more inmates means more overtime. The overtime factor was further exasperated by the County Board's decision to cut Detention Deputy staff in the jail by 10 positions. That means those shortages had to be filled by overtime.

Let me continue your education Mr. Duchschere. Overtime in the jail is mandatory. Any empty spot on a shift must be filled according to DOC regulations. If no one volunteers, jail staff is forced to stay over or come in early. Often plans to go home, go to a kid's sporting event, attend family gatherings are thwarted by a "draft" (forced overtime). Again as Sheriff Stanek pointed out we are a 24/7 operation. We work weekends, nights and holidays. So you see, it doesn't matter if some individuals worked more overtime then others, every single hour of overtime would have been worked no matter how you slice it.

So rather then painting a picture about what fat cats we are, maybe you could thank us for the long hours we work watching the people the police take out of your neighborhood. The people you are afraid of. Some of us have even made the ultimate sacrifice this year. When your paper reports that violent crime is up by 66% and the police arrest more people; who do you think supervises those violent offenders?

I should also mention that we've had years of wage freezes. We have people working at the jail for three years still making starting pay. Some who haven't had a weekend off in years. So, you see Mr.Duchschere we are not high salaried fat cats, but hard working Public Servants working a dangerous job with long hours of mandatory overtime to protect you. 

One final point Mr. Ducschere, I'd like to thank your paper for listing all of out first and last names, even though the Sheriff's Office asked you not to. Most inmates only know  Detention Deputies by their  last names. Most Detention Deputies pay to have their phone numbers unlisted so our clientele don't show up at our homes to visit our families as they are apt to threaten. Thanks for making our homes and families easier to track down as we try to protect yours.

Labor and MNPEA News, September 2012

Judge strikes down Wis. law that effectively ended collective bargaining for public workers  Star Tribune

MNPEA Welcomes the Arrowhead Regional Corrections Board, Essential Employees

MNPEA Welcomes Sibley County Sheriff's OfficeEssentials

MNPEA Welcomes Witnthrop Licensed Essentials, Our 20th Unit in Under 12 Months     MNPEA.COM

Welcome aboard!

Julianne Ortman, the hypocritical Republican

On September 2, 2012 on Labor Day weekend I listened to State Senator Julianne Ortman being interviewed on the radio on the KTALK, Late Debate Show at about 3:30 PM. 

She began bragging at one point about the Senate stopping the State Public Employee Union's from settling their contract. She was referencing the action by Sen. Mike Parry who caused the Senate to not approve the already negotiated and agreed upon contract with the State Employee unions. She said something along the lines that the "Public Employees came like they do every year expecting a raise, but this time we told them no." Of course as Public Employees we know the reality is that their wages have been frozen for years.

This came as no surprise from a Senator  who voted against guaranteed pension benefits for public employees and voted to reduce the State workforce by 15%. I will grant that this is a common position of her political party, but while she talks the talk, and votes the vote she does not WALK THE WALK. Like too many politicians she's good at telling her constituents what they want to hear then doing something else. 

Here's something every one of her constituents should know. 

While Senator Ortman is big on attacking public employees she is one herself! Not just a State Senator, she is a Senior Administrative Manager with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and has been drawing a salary of over $90,000 a year since 2007. She gets not one, but two Public Employee Pensions, one from the Minnesota Senate and another State PERA pension from Hennepin County. 

As I wrote in an earlier post, she still works for the Sheriff's Office making about $90,000 a year in addition to the $40,000 a year she makes as a State Senator. She also racked up 77 hours of "overtime" (though salaried), when the 35W bridge collapsed. So while she votes against hard working Public Employees she doesn't miss an opportunity to cash out at the expense of the taxpayers any chance she gets.There have been allegations in the media in the past about her claiming pay from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and the State Senate at overlapping times.

Like us Hennepin County Detention Deputies, our fellow State Correctional Officers have also had no raises for years. We work days and nights, weekends and Holidays locked up with the dangerous people the police have removed from neighborhoods. We have endured years of no raises, yet Senator Ortman regales the fact the State Senate has yet again prevented them from getting a raise. She plays games with our hardships for political points, all while eating up a bigger piece of the pie then any of us.

I have an idea, I know a Public Employee position Senator Ortman could eliminate immediately by resigning her job with Hennepin County. After all she does support a 15% reduction in public employees. 

I have another idea, her constituents can vote for her challenger, Jim Weygand.

This post is written by Wade Laszlo, Union Steward, Minnesota Public Employees Association.

The people the public forgets about are still dangerous.

A good friend of mine on the LAPD shared this article with me.

Convicted murderer from L.A. attacks two guards on death row

"Timothy Joseph McGhee, 39, who was convicted of killing three people, used a hand-made weapon to attack the guards Thursday morning as they returned him a a shower to his cell, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said. The guards received cuts and wounds on their heads, necks and arms and were treated at a hospital."   LA Times

It just goes to show that once the bad guys are locked up and out of the public eye they still continue to be a danger to Correctional Officers. Only we are often locked in with them at a ratio of 60 to 1 and unarmed. Odds most cops wouldn't even think about.

Union Stewards and Important Information

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MNPEA MEMBERS

These are your MNPEA Stewards in the Hennepin County Jail Division:

B. Ebbers
J. Herlitz
W. Laszlo
P. Miles
B. Peterson
M. Smith
T. Westerdahl

MNPEA Stewards will assist you with grievances and sit with you if you are called into a situation that could result in discipline. See Weingarten Rights.

MNPEA Attorney's will accompany you to Internal Affairs and will assist you in if you are involved in a Critical Incident.

If you get a letter to appear in Internal Affairs call 651 287-8883. DO NOT GO ALONE our attorney will accompany you. You have this right under Article 34 of our Agreement and under Weingarten.

If you are involved in a Critical Incident call 651 287-8883. DO NOT GIVE A STATEMENT WITHOUT YOUR LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

Our Business Agent is Mike Golen. You can reach him at 612 817-6042.

Arbitration Date

A date has been set for contract arbitration on October 4, 2012 at 9:30 AM for Hennepin County Detention Deputies, Techs and Radio.

After an overwhelming rejection of the County offer we will be arbitrating the 2012 Step Increases and the 2012 Cost of Living Adjustment.

The 2013 1.5% Cost of Living Raise and Steps were agreed upon.

Message from MNPEA business agent Mike Golen

This is a repost:

Michael Sharon Berg-GolenMinnesota Public Employees Association "mnpea"

It is with a very somber heart that I make this report. Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney returned the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) candidate response form on Friday. He said that he didn't believe that Police, Corrections and Essential Services should have the right to work under contracts. FOP President Gary Cayo and I spoke yesterday and there is a growing mood of discontent with the direction The Republican Party has taken both Nationally and State by State. The Conservative Values that many of us grew up with and hold dear no longer seem to be the values of The Republican Party. I urge you to get involved with your local caucus whether you're a Republican or a Democrat. This is not an Endorsement, it is a Call To Arms. To Work In Law Enforcement Umbrella Jobs Without A Contract and Due Process Would Be A Disaster. Both for the staff and the public we serve. A Government that turns against it's soldiers is a Ship Of Fools. WE are the Patriots. WE are the Front Line Army. This message is from me, Mike Golen, Director of MNPEA and is intended as my personal opinion. All MNPEA Members are encouraged to speak their own mind. Their opinions are respected regardless of my opinion, other Board Member's opinions or the opinions of other members.

Many State Legislators think public employees still get too much!

The Associated Press is reporting (full story):

"Sen. Mike Parry of Waseca said he called the hearing in St. Paul to examine new union contracts for state employees..."

"The new contracts negotiated by state officials and the unions contain a 2 percent raise for all state workers starting in January and higher out-of-pocket payments for health care. Some employees are eligible for additional pay increases of up to 3.5 percent based on their level of experience. The state would continue to pay full health insurance premiums for employees and 85 percent for dependents. AFSCME and MAPE members ratified the contracts last month.

Republicans on the panel said they wanted to delve into contract details in an effort to cut spending and restructure government. Sen. Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake, said she had hoped state negotiators would have pushed harder to save money."

The problem is that the contracts for State public employees were voted on and accepted by both sides and now

 "the subcommittee on employee relations... has the power to temporarily approve or reject the contracts for more than 27,000 workers represented by AFSCME Council 5 and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees. The panel's decision stands until the full Legislature can vote on the contracts next year. The two-year contracts run through June 2013."

In other words this committee is holding up signing a negotiated contract until 2013! The state workers have had more years of wage freezes then us. 

These politicians have no qualms about freezing wages, steps or even delaying signing negotiated contracts no matter how much public employees are hurt. The State workers even lost 3 weeks pay during the last shut down.

I hope they strike, their contract expired last Dec. 31st.

The importance of our Dispatchers

The following story was forwarded to me by a friend of mine on the L.A. PD. It's about the dispatcher that handled the Aurora Colorado 911 call the night of the shooting.

Aurora's Anonymous Hero

Thank you dispatchers for all you do.

Corrections News & Views, July 2012

Benefit for Brad Burrows

Former Detention Deputy Brad Burrow's has a rare form of cancer. A benefit is being held for him on July 21st at McKracken's Pub, 3120 W. Highway 13, Burnsville, MN.

Bradley Berntson Benefit

Correctional Officer Facts

Correctional Officers Facts

Who Are Correctional Officers? (This post is to lay the groundwork for my next post).

■ 77.7% male, 22.3% female ■ 69.5% white, 20.8% black, 5.7% Hispanic 

■ 80.5% are between the ages of 30 – 44 

■ 63.9% have some college experience,25% have a college degree, 19% Bachelors, 4.5% Masters, 1.5% Ph.D. 

■ Correctional Officers (CO’s) have the second highest mortality rate of any occupation.

■ 33.5% of all assaults in prisons and jails are committed by inmates against staff. 

■ A CO’s 58th birthday, on average, is their last. 

■ A CO will be seriously assaulted at least twice in a 20 year career. 

■ On average a CO will live only 18 months after retirement. 

■ CO’s have a 39% higher suicide rate than any other occupation, 

■ And have a higher divorce and substance abuse rates then the general population. 

Sources: “Stress Management for the Professional Correctional Officer”, Donald Steele, Ph.D., Steele Publishing 2001 “Corrections Yearbook 2000, 2002”, Criminal Justice Institute, Middletown, CT “Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics 2003”, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 31st edition, NCJ 208756 “Suicide Risk Among Correctional Officers”, Archives of Suicide Research, Stack, S.J., & Tsoudis, O. 1997 Metropolitan Life Actuarial Statistics, 1998 Society of Actuaries, 1994

Source: Real Police.net 

County Approves $417,000 for 1 HCSO Vehicle

On May 22, 2012 the County Board approved 12-0231Agmt A120623 with the State of Minnesota to provide grant funding for a special purpose CBRNE Rescue and Incident Response Vehicle for the Sheriff's Office, 9/1/11 - 8/31/14, (recv $417,705)

That's right, but they want to continue your wage freeze for another year!

Uniform Issue follow up

After filing a complaint with the HCSO Administration regarding charging newly hired Detention Deputies for a training uniform, the Sheriff's Administration has informed our MNPEA business agent Mike Golen that they will be reimbursed the cost of the uniform.

Justice, Norwegian Style

Uniform Issue and News

On May 23rd I notified the Sheriff's Administration of a contract violation. I learned that they made the 4 new Detention Deputies purchase khaki pants and black polo shirts as a training uniform. 


This violated two sections of our contract. First Article 32 which states:




ARTICLE 32 - CLOTHING ALLOWANCE

Section 1.	Newly hired employees in the Detention Deputy class shall during the first  year of employment, be provided basic uniform clothing items of the  quantity, type and style prescribed by the EMPLOYER.

Then:


ARTICLE 2 - RECOGNITION

Section 3.

The EMPLOYER, in accordance with the provisions of Minnesota Statutes 179A.06 agrees not to enter into any agreements covering terms and conditions of employment with members of the bargaining unit under jurisdiction of this AGREEMENT either individually or collectively which in any way conflict with the terms and conditions set forth in this AGREEMENT, except through the certified representative.

Our MNPEA representative was never notified of this action by the Sheriff's Office

to charge new Detention Deputies for uniform items. We have demanded they be 
reimbursed the cost.

News: The Occupy MN folks redecorated the Sheriff's Office today as part of a foreclosure protest:

History Repeats Itself

The year was 1934. Minneapolis Union activists were on strike for the right to organize and closed Union shops. They were opposed by the Citizens Alliance a group of Minneapolis businessman that opposed Unions and especially closed shops. The line they fed everyone was that individuals would do better negotiating their own wages rather then being in a Union. During this period the average American worked 10 hours a day six days a week with no benefits.

On July 20th 1934 the police, Teamsters, and Citizens Alliance supporters clashed in a Battle known as "Bloody Friday." Minneapolis police shot 67 strikers - over 40 of them in the back. Two of these men, Henry Ness and John Belor, died. It should be noted that over 100,000 people attended the funeral of Henry Ness. This strike was settled when President Roosevelt intervened and resulted in the National Labor Relations Act, the 40 hour work week and the right to organize.

The year is now 2012. "Right to Work" politicians  like Dave Thompson and Julianne Ortman regurgitate the line that there shouldn't be closed Union shops, that people would do better negotiating their own wages.Too many Americans are again working 10 to 12 hour days, six or seven days a week, with little or no benefits.  They often work either several part time jobs or one full time one, and one or more part time jobs to make ends meet.

On May 18th, 2012 Hennepin County Sheriff Richard Stanek honored C. Arthur Lyman for Law Enforcement Week as a fallen law enforcement officer 78 years after his death. He had his name inscribed on the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. Mr. Lyman was not a policeman! He was a businessman and board member of the Citizens Alliance who was "deputized" to fight strikers. In a quote to CBS News, Sheriff Stanek said, “Our deputy gave his life while working on behalf of public safety and he deserves to be honored in Hennepin County and in our nation’s capitol.” Senator Julianne Ortman is employed by Sheriff Stanek. The anti-labor sentiment has come full circle.


This post is dedicated to the sacrifice Henry Ness and John Belor gave at the hands of the Citizens Alliance and Minneapolis police.

What to do in a Critical Incident

CALL THE MNPEA LAWYER FIRST!

651 287-8883

>Really should be first phone call
>Have your critical incident card ready & on you.
  (Number is on our bulletin board)

Firmly, but politely assert your rights.

Don't talk to "friends", partners, or fellow officers about the FACTS. But don't get isolated either.

Refuse to write "reports" until after your lawyer gets there. If problem persists, lawyer can deal with it. Don't write, sign or agree to anything.

Don't do anything without talking to your lawyer first.
> Definitely DO NOT give or make statements.

*adopted from Fowler Law and MNPEA Steward training guide

MNPEA Steward Training

MNPEA held their first Union Steward training today. I have to say it was very refreshing.

The topics were:

Role of Stewards
Weingarten, Garrity, and PO Bill of Rights
Processing Grievances Step 1 through arbitration
Criminal vs Civil Investigations
Hypothetical Case Studies and Discussion

All and all good meat and potatoes material for Union Stewards. This was conducted by our Attorney Rob Fowler.

I must add it was very refreshing to hear no politics, especially in an election year, unlike steward training from our last exclusive rep.

Death in the Jail

Unfortunately there was a death in the jail yesterday.

The Star Tribune has an article which states:

"An inmate at the Hennepin County jail died Monday after an apparent in-cell suicide attempt, authorities said.

The inmate, a 25-year-old woman, was found unresponsive in her cell at about 1 p.m., according to Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Lisa Kiava. The inmate had apparently attempted suicide, but the sheriff's office provided no further details." 


Those words can't describe the professionalism and heart demonstrated during that stressful time. I'd like to thank all of the jail staff who responded and worked so hard to trying to save the woman's life using CPR.


I'd also like to thank our MNPEA attorney Rob Fowler, who sat with our members during the Critical Incident investigation conducted by the detectives. It's a service our profession has long needed.

Watch your sick time...they want to take it!

The Star Tribune is reporting that the Counties and Cities are now whining about giving departing employees their sick pay when they leave.

This steward is hitting the fan! On the one hand employees are discouraged from using sick time by being placed on "monitored sick leave" for using it in a contractual manner. (This practice was grieved and is heading to arbitration).On the other hand they now are now discussing not letting you take your accruals with you when you leave at all.

As always they find the most extreme example:

"Donald Holmberg's retirement as chief information officer for Hennepin County last year came with more than well wishes from his colleagues.

The county also paid Holmberg $87,776 for unused sick and vacation days that he had amassed over 38 years on the payroll." Star Tribune

The executives always get obscene amounts more compensation. Remember the $2,000 the Sheriff, County Attorney and County board got this year for health club memberships? A year they once again offer us another wage freeze. No blue collar County worker leaves with that amount of money anymore then they give us $2,000 for health club memberships not deducted from our sick time. 


Our contract only allows us to leave with a cap of 800 hours after completing 8 years of employment. 800 hours representing savings to the county. In our job as Detention Deputies if I call in sick they not only pay me, they must also pay someone time and one half to cover my spot. I'll bet the salaried executives don't have a cap, and I'd further wager they never use their sick time because they are salaried...they just don't come in that day. Then take all of it uncapped when they leave. How else does a county Chief Information Officer leave with $87,776? The median County worker leaves with only $1,730 according to this article...replace median with average worker and you get the picture. The fat salaried guys rake it in, then we get painted with the same brush and are expected to take it in the ass again.

By saving sick time employees save the county money and get a reasonable severance check. Would they really rather we use it to "sick out" at the end of our careers? They really need to make a decision. Do they want to punish us for using it, or punish us for saving it? 

I have a better idea. After years of wage freezes how about they knock off the bullshit and leave us the hell alone? 

Federal judge upholds most of contentious Wis. union law, rejects ban on automatic union dues

Star Tribune article 4/1/12

Federal judge upholds most of contentious Wis. union law, rejects ban on automatic union dues

MADISON, Wis. - A federal judge upheld most of Wisconsin's contentious law curbing collective bargaining rights on Friday, but he sided with unions by overturning two portions of the law that were costly and impeded on a major funding source for the groups.

One banned public workers from allowing union dues to be automatically withdrawn from their paychecks, while the other required expensive annual elections where all members, not just those voting, would have to support staying organized. Still, the ruling keeps in place the majority of the law championed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

FULL STORY

Contract Update: Going to Arbitration

After an overwhelming rejection of the County offer we returned to Mediation today. We will be arbitrating the 2012 Step Increases and the 2012 Cost of Living Adjustment.

Us and the County agreed on the rest of the offer, which means for Detention staff our call back will go from 2 hours minimum to 3 (effective when the new contract is settled) and for Telecommunicators they will bid their shifts by seniority in November.

Realistically, I don't expect a date for the Arbitration for a couple of months.

Contract Negotiations Renew

We return to the negotiating table for contract mediation on Wednesday, March 24, 2012.

The membership overwhelmingly rejected the County's offer.

Bottom line is the County wants the members to endure more wage freezes and the membership has rejected that. Especially in light of the County's budget surplus.

If there is no movement at the bargaining table this Wednesday we will certify items for arbitration and move on.

Goodbye Brad

Bradley Allen Berntson

August 25, 1961 - March 15, 2012

Obituary for Brad Berntson

Berntson, Bradley Allen age 50, of Bethel. Detention Sergeant with Hennepin Co. Sheriff's Dept. Survived by loving wife, Julie; sons, Ben (Vanessa), Jim Berntson; granddaughters, Melody & Lauren; parents, Bonnie & Dennis Fleigle; brothers, Brian (Denise) Berntson, Mark (Connie) Fleigle, Thomas (Melissa) Fleigle; sisters, Terri (Brad) Lien, Michele (Mike) Fodstad; grandmother, Anne Quarnstrom; also many other relatives & friends.

Mass of Christian Burial Tues., 10 AM at the Church of Saint Paul, 1740 Bunker Lake Blvd., Ham Lake. Visitation Mon., 4-9 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM all at the church. Interment Ft. Snelling Cemetery on Wednesday. Memorials preferred.

Online condolences: www.millerfuneralfridley.com Miller Funeral Home Fridley Chapel 763-571-1300
(Star Tribune)

I worked with Brad since 1990 and was shocked over his unforeseen death. Brad was always very down to earth, practical and good natured. He never forgot where he came from and treated everyone well. I will miss him.

The lie of the Freedom of Employment Amendment

The Stanek Administrations' connection to "Right to Work."

It's interesting (but not surprising) to see that the Stanek Administration has a connection to the anti-labor Right to Work Legislation. Below are the Minutes from the March 12, 2012 Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety that passed SF 1705, the so called Right to Work Bill that would disallow closed union shops. I will be posting lots more on this. 


For those who don't know, Senator Ortman is the Senator hired by the Stanek Administration as the Chief Financial Officer in 2007, she still works for the Sheriff's Office making about $90,000 a year in addition to the $40,000 a year she makes as a State Senator. She also racked up 77 hours of "overtime" (though salaried), when the 35W bridge collapsed. Although she double dips from the public trough as a Sheriff's Office Administrator and a State Senator she doesn't want any other public employees, or private ones  for that matter, to have the benefits of a Union. With her help our representation is in danger.


Way to go Senator Ortman!


Here's the minutes, see her name in RED!


Senator Jungbauer moved that S.F.1705, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Jobs Committee.
MOTION FAILED.


Senator Thompson moved that S.F.1705, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.


Senator Marty requested a roll call vote.
Ayes:
Senators Hall, Hoffman, Jungbauer, Limmer, Newman, Ortman, Thompson
Nayes:
Senators Goodwin, Harrington, Ingebrigtsen, Latz, Marty, McGuire
7Ayes, 6Nayes, MOTION PREVAILED.

Shift bid? The Contract? Just another management tool?

Today, February 27th, the shift bid finally became available. The Contract states it's to be out on or about February 15th. Typically that meant if the 15th fell on a weekend they got a couple of extra days. Big f'n deal to this administration. It took several complaints to management and a grievance being filed on the 24th for the bid to come out.

These are some points I made in an email to an administrative lieutenant:

Getting the shift bid out late creates several problems for our members and their families

1. Their families don't know what shifts they'll be working.

2. Prime Time Vacation Requests must be in by April 1st. This will leave employees little or no time to make vacation plans.

3.The 28 day schedule can't be posted until the shifts are determined, therefore people will not even know their days off until this is settled.

I don't know why it was posted so late IN VIOLATION OF THE CONTRACT. I only know that it was, and no one in the administration bothered to give either MNPEA or the HCSDA a heads up, or even an explanation or communication as to why.

By contrast, this administration uses contract language to bludgeon members.

When our members are late putting in shift bids they are forced onto middle shift.

When our members don't get their Prime Time Vacation requests in by April 1st they don't get a vacation.

When the members complain the answer always is, "read your contract."

The contract is owned by both parties, if the administration wanted to do something different, like change the dates for the bid, the time was at the negotiating table!

Unfortunately, to this administration the contract seems to be just another thing to be ignored, unless they need a tool to keep us in line.

Just more typical Stanek administration dealing with labor.

General Membership Meeting

MNPEA General Membership Meeting

March 8th, 2012

6:00 PM

Meet & Greet 5:30. Come early for hot dogs, chips and pop.

Location:

2233 Hamline Ave. N.
Suite 603
Roseville, MN

Meeting in lower level conference room.

Corrections News & Views 2012, vol. 2

MNPEA Members Reject Hennepin County's Offer

Ballots were counted today, February 21, 2012.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Detention Deputies, Techs, Telecommunicators and Evidence Specialists represented by the Minnesota Public Employees Association (MNPEA) have overwhelmingly rejected the Contract offer made by Hennepin County for 2012 and 2013.

What happens next?

The current contract remains enforce.

The State Mediator will call both sides back to the bargaining table where if an agreement isn't reached we can file for arbitration.