Welcome Minneapolis 911 to MNPEA!

MNPEA Welcomes the Minneapolis Dispatchers!

AFSCME challange to MNPEA dismissed with Prejudice

This is a re-post from MNPEA's Facebook page. AFSCME and Teamsters Local 320 brought a challenge at the Bureau of Mediation Services challangeing MNPEA's right to status as a public employee union. They wasted thousands of taxpayer dollars for the hearing at the State, wasted their members dues money on attorneys and wasted MNPEA member resources. 

Brian Aldes, Teamsters

Why? Because Brian Aldes (Teamsters Local 320), 

Eliot Seide, AFSCME

Eliot Seide and Eric Lehto (AFSCME Council 5) were afraid of the MNPEA continuing to attract their members.

When they realized they weren't going to win, they threw in the towel.. Here's the post:

"Concerning AFSCME and Teamsters 320 claim that MNPEA should be de-certified as a Public Sector Union:

The Bureau issued a ruling that Council 5 and MNPEA shall share the cost of the hearing transciption equally and that there is not a reasonable appearance that MNPEA presently fails to comply with any of the requirements of sections 179.18 to179.231.

We'll have the COMPLETE Transcripts posted soon. You're going to love this!

That's Right! We're still here in spite of Brian Aldes from Local 320 bragging to members and others that we would be removed and in spite of AFSCME spending tons of member's dues money on the bogus hearing! Nobody from 320 even showed at the hearings, they sent a hired gun atty at the expense of their members. At least AFSCME's bureaucrats (appointed non-elected by the way, that's why we call them bureaucrats) had the courage to be there and go on record. 320 talks a lot of smack in the background but won't put anything in writing or go on record....

We're still $39 per month including On and Off Duty Legal Defense for members and their spouses."

BMS Decision

Teamsters Local 320 Attack on Corrections Officer Pension

Corrections News & Views, January 2014 Edition

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.

Contract Negotiation Update

Below is a copy of our response to Hennepin County's initial offer:

MNPEA Response to Employer's Initial Proposal from Oct. 29'2013

1) Duration. MNPEA is open on this issue.

2) Wages- 3% General Increase in each year of contract to all unit members (also
referred to as a "COLA"), applies to all steps. See also #3,4 & 5 below.

3) Steps- All unit members not at tcp of range receive steps each year of conlract,
' General lncrease (or "COLA's" ) percenta ge in #2 above shall apply and increase to
all step levels. Steps will not be contingent on any perforrr,ance review or merit.
In addition, certain employees were in recent past o'frozen". For these employees,
two step movements will occur in2014 with the applicable percentage increase.
Applies only to employees employed at time of freeze.

4) Change $18.01 from employers proposal to $20.01, and change $300 lump sum to
$500.

5) Market adjustment- all step grids to ittcrease by $3.00 per hour
.
6) I\{NPEA is ready to sign.

7) Employers proposal is acceptable.

8) Employers proposal is acceptable.

9) No as proposed. Statutory right.

l0) Hold for further discussion- but as drafted, No.

1l) Employers proposal is acceptable.

CHANGES OR ADDITIONS from MNPEA's Initial Proposal

A) MNPEA will drop item under Article l1- Holidays

B) Article 2l- Insurance, see above, ready to sign.

C) All other proposals remain as originally stated or as modified in response to employer
items above. MNPEA reserves the right to add or modify its position and proposals.

D) NEw- 28 day schedule. Want written rules on applicability and procedures in
contract

E) NEW- Telecommunicators Bid- "on or about Nov. 1" language. Add language stating
"on or about means at most a one week grace period from Nov. 1"

An interesting side note. While waiting to go upstairs for our negotiations we ran into a couple of fine folks from AFSCME. You know the guys who got our addresses and came to our homes accompanied by a pedophile.

Well we told them we didn't appreciate Ryan Hanson and Dale Blom's antics. One of them then had the nerve to ask us to sign a bunch of cards they had.soliciting THE PUBLIC for signatures to get them a raise. I told them we were pissed and wouldn't sign anything with AFSCME on it.

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.

New Corrupt Challange

This is a sad tale. The MNPEA has been a good hardworking Association for us for over two years. It has grown into one of the largest Corrections, Law Enforcement, Public Employee  Associations in Minnesota. 

On November 14th the Bureau of Mediation Services, for the third time, will be holding a hearing at AFSCME's request challenging the MNPEA's right to exist. The following is from MNPEA's Facebook site:

AFSCME is making its 3rd feeble attempt to remove MNPEA as a union! Instead of getting off their butts and doing the job that their members pay dues for they're spending $1000s and $1000s to attack us. The usual 1950s BS union tactics. Rest assured, this attack will fail. We will continue to liberate public employees in MN from the neanderthal unions that have enslaved them for so long. Join us in the 21st century. You know its time for a change.www.mnpea.com

AFSCME went as far as telling Pine County Public employees looking to join MNPEA, that MNPEA is not going to be recognized as a Union, their bullshit challenge, so don't bother voting for them. The vote at Pine County went to AFSCME by one vote. Our attorney challenged this due to AFSCME's lie and the status quo order has been reinstated so they can vote again with the FACTS.

My question to the Bureau of Mediation Services is this:

How many times must MNPEA be certified? How many times will they have to sit through bullshit hearings? Why don't you tell AFSCME that that decision has already been made? Or do you owe favors to Eliot Seide of AFSCME? Is the Bureau only for the large Unions like AFSCME and Teamsters who are losing members? Or representing working citizens and the Unions they choose without prejudice?

As organized Public Employees we need to have trust in the Bureau. If it appears to be in the pocket of other entities then it serves no purpose. 

Contract Talks Update

We meet again with Hennepin County on October 29th to receive their proposal. Our position is resolute. We need a market adjustment and a cost of living raise in addition to steps.

Hennepin County Detention Deputies and our counterparts at the Workhouse ARE THE LOWEST PAID IN THE 7 COUNTY METRO AREA!

This is unacceptable. A Ramsey County Detention Deputy starts at $22 an hour. A Hennepin County one starts at $17. At 5 years a Ramsey County Detention Deputy is at $31 an hour. Hennepin tops out at $27 an hour after 8 years, that is if there wasn't the 5 years of wage freezes we just had. Ramsey tops at $34 an hour.

We are the biggest busiest jail in the upper Midwest and the only ACA accredited jail in Minnesota, which means shit when it comes to more wages. It only means we get hours and hours of more training than our better paid counterparts.

Well, Hennepin County had better have a serious offer or this steward won't think twice about going to arbitration. After all, the only mint left on the pillow after we got screwed last time, was that we can compare ourselves to Ramsey County, and we will.

I hope the Workhouse gets on board and doesn't get stuck bargaining as clerical, instead of essential as AFSCME always does to them.

MNPEA response to AFSCME smack talk

Dear members,

AFSCME has been talking smack about us, claiming we're not a Union. Here's our MNPEA Business Agent's response:

Attention Minnesota Public Employees:

Because of our ongoing organizing of public groups in Minnesota there have been numerous rumors and statements originating from a couple of big unions about who we are, what we promise and what our service to members is. Here are some of the things being said and our response.

In a recent letter from the President of Local 82, AFL-CIO (MPLS Firefighters Union) he starts with the statement that MNPEA has been comparing itself to the AFL-CIO and AFSCME. Neither I nor the other Officers of MNPEA have ever compared ourselves to them. Why would we? They represent most of the things wrong with the Labor Movement in the 21st century. When I was President of Local 320 Teamster President James Hoffa, after years of requests from Teamster members and officers to leave the AFL-CIO, finally took a vote among the top two officers of all the Teamsters Locals. The desire was overwhelming to leave and we did. In the 34 years I've been involved in MN unions as a member, agent and officer, I have watched AFSCME roll over in contract negotiations time and again. Our members and many of theirs have voiced the same opinion. While the Teamsters left the AFL-CIO, they kept a non-raid pact with AFSCME or we would have had several of their groups cross over to Teamsters. Until MNPEA there has been a monopoly on most public jobs in MN by AFSCME and Teamsters.

He also stated that MNPEA doesn’t have political clout because we’re too small. MNPEA is already three times larger than the MPLS Firefighter Union. We haven’t had issues speaking with elected officials, their doors are open to us just like the others. The main difference is that we only endorse candidates if 70% or more of our members are in agreement. We report relevant information concerning political impact on their jobs to our members and let them decide who they want to support and/or vote for like adults. We don’t badger them with endless phone calls and mailings, wasting their dues money and time. Our members consider such behavior on the part of unions to be intrusive and insulting to their intelligence.

He then went on to say that people don’t have a voice with MNPEA and our 3 staff members. In fact our bylaws allow the members to over-ride Executive Board Decisions on grievances they want taken to arbitration if the Board isn’t recommending it! If 70% of the members in a bargaining unit want to arbitrate anyway we do it. He also said that we make promises we can’t keep! WE MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE CAN’T PROMISE BETTER CONTRACTS ETC, just that we’ll work harder and return all calls etc. What we do promise are $39 per month union dues through 2016 . No hidden costs. We invite Stewards to our Board meetings and if we ever need to raise dues they will be part of the decision process and we must have the members vote in the increase. We hold Steward elections after each contract is negotiated and approved by the members. The AFSCME groups up in the ARC that came to us were flabbergasted! All of the positions there were appointed under AFSCME!

Both Teamsters and AFSCME representatives have claimed that we aren’t elected. We started this association from scratch and are the first Executive Board Members. Our bylaws provide for elections just like theirs. All of the groups that have come to us elected to do so. That’s the process through the MN Bureau Of Mediation. Before I retired from Teamsters Local 320 myself, our President Dave Deal and several members ran against their Executive Board in the Teamsters Delegate Election in 2011 and WE WON! None of the 320 Board Members, Agents and members running with them got to go. WE represented the Teamster members at the convention. This had never happened to an existing Teamster Executive Board before. Change can be had if you have the courage and conviction to stand up, which we did and continue to do. Don’t let the big unions intimidate you, they’re not tough guys like some of them pretend to be unless lazy is the new tough LoL! You deserve better.

AFSCME is currently spending their member’s dues money paying several people to take off work and replacing their wages while they come out to places of work and member’s homes to spread lies about MNPEA. They are doing mailings, emails, home visits and phone calls 7 days a week. Many of the mailings and flyers have no author listed! Not much due process when anonymous letters and rumors lead the procession. The lies for the most part are down right childish. Silly things like your contract doesn’t go with you. You’ll lose your job. Anyone can call the MN Bureau Of Mediation, the State Agency that handles union and employer affairs, and ask them how things really work.http://mn.gov/bms/index.html Do you really want people that tell childish lies and slander instead of stepping up to the plate and making changes? We don’t go out and cold call groups. They contact us! For many years AFSCME and Teamsters have had a monopoly on Public Employees in MN. That is no longer the case and members all over are finding that out. We are being contacted all over the state.

One of the things big unions aren’t telling their members is how many paying members they have lost in Right To Work States. For example in Wisconsin AFSCME went from over 50,000 paying members to under 15,000! AFSCME wants to blame conservatives for their condition. NO! It’s the lack of service and the high monthly dues that are the downfall of big unions. We hear this constantly from workers calling us wanting to leave their outdated Neanderthal unions. Meanwhile Officers and Agents working for the big unions continue to receive multiple salaries and retirements. They continue to hold extravagant conferences around the country where they stay at fancy hotels with free drinks and food etc. It’s like the rats at the top are stealing everything they can before their ships sink.

We have a new vision for the 21st century instead of the archaic 1950s model the large unions use. 24/7 Legal Defense for our members and their spouses. Including not just Licensed Peace Officers but all public employee members! If a legal issue arises outside of work you call our attorneys. If your employer wants to question you and it can lead to discipline we send an attorney to represent you. We also have open financial dealings. Try to get the spending facts including “Miscellaneous Expenditures” from the big unions. It’s a very sad time in America when big union Executive Boards are corrupt as or worse than many corporate Executives Boards. Good luck to working Americans with that scenario.

You can chose to allow the same old same old or you can stand up and demand change. We are prepared to debate any big union officers, agents, employees etc anytime. Let them try to slander us and lie about us in a public forum. We’ll tell you what really goes on in these organizations and what they really do with your dues money and a whole lot more. Check us out at www.Mnpea.com.

Thank you for your time,
Mike Golen
MNPEA Director

Officer Safety Warning

There are people who are knocking on the doors of the Hennepin County Detention Deputies, Techs and Dispatchers from AFSCME. We believe they have improperly obtained non-public data to do this. There is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.

WARNING: One of the people going to our homes is a CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER. The victim was just 14 years old. We do not know the criminal  backgrounds of the rest of them. USE CAUTION IF THEY APPROACH YOUR HOME.

This the sex offender's mugshot:

Click here for his most recent picture.

Just yesterday a Maricopa County Detention Deputy was murdered in his driveway as he prepared to go to work. Use Caution.

There is a special meeting being held Monday. Please attend, it is posted on the bulletin boards at work.

Ryan Hanson, AFSCME, Publish Corrections Officers Addresses

This is Ryan Hanson. He is an organizer with AFSCME. His card has been left at the homes of  our Hennepin County Detention Deputies and Dispatchers.

He, along with Hennepin County Workhouse Corrections Officer Dale Blom, Minnesota  State Patrol 911 Dispatcher Megan Hennessey, and Minnesota DOC Stillwater Prison Corrections Officer Bill Stephens are visiting our homes with lists they claim are "public information." 

I then must ask the question. How would Minnesota State Correctional Officers, Minnesota State Patrol 911 Operators and Hennepin County Adult Corrections Facility Corrections Officers feel if their names and home addresses were published? As fellow Corrections Officers isn't this a major security violation? How unnerving would it be to your family to have two strangers at their door asking for you by name as a CO? Do you really trust a Union that thinks this is OK?

Would you have a problem if your private data was passed out for people to knock on your door? 

This tells me AFSCME has no respect for workers, and especially no regard for the safety of Corrections Officers.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

AFSCME people have been coming to members doors. If they/when they show up get their name, a picture if you can and ask how they got your address.

Let a steward know we are compiling a comprehensive list of everyone they have visited at home or called.

The information they are using is not public.

There will be a meeting in the near future with a VERY important announcement.