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.

Ballots are coming!

Arbitration Filed on Sick Time Grievance

Today our attorney Robert Fowler filed for arbitration over the sick time grievance.

As you know this has to do with the Sheriff's Office making a policy June 1st limiting sick time use to 96 hours a year. Then going back and auditing us back one year and then placing people on monitored sick time retroactively for time used BEFORE the policy existed!

Our contract language does not recognize the amount of time used. Only what it can be used for.

MNPEA Member Rights

Garrity

Weingarten Rights

Corrections News & Views 2012, vol. #1

Contents: Representation, Contract Negotiations, Shift Differential Grievance, Steward Elections, Staffing Cuts, Stewards Banned from I.A. and the Pension

DUES NOTICE

Minnesota Public Employees Association Notice:

This Notice is to provide you required information (although you all are likely already aware of this information) regarding fair share dues, should any of you elect to become fair share rather than full members.  Also, this is a friendly reminder to turn in your membership cards and the $25 set up fee check if you have already not done so.  Until your card is turned in, the County is considering you a fair share member.

You must be a full share member and pay your set up fee before your legal defense coverage becomes effective.

Regular dues are $39 per month.  Fair Share dues are $29 per month.  The fair share dues are set at this figure because only regular full share members receive the MNPEA legal defense plan, which costs $10 per month.  The remaining $29 covers $8 per month per member for labor legal services, and $21 to the MNPEA arbitration and operating fund.

An employee may challenge this assessment by filing a challenge with the Bureau of Mediation Services within 30 calendar days after receipt of this notice. The challenge must specify those portions of the assessment being contested and the reasons therefor, and copies of the challenge must be sent to your employer and this organization. The Public Employment Labor Relations Act requires a fee for filing challenges. Forms for challenges and a copy of the rules governing them are available from the bureau without charge.

The mailing address for the Bureau of Mediation Services is:

BMS

1380 Energy Lane, Suite Two

St. Paul, MN 55108

Fowler Law Firm / Minnesota Public Employees Association

1700 Highway 36 West, Suite 550

Roseville, MN 55113

Ph: 612-367-6673

December Update

GRIEVANCE

Re: Det. Tech Bentzen's grievance regarding unpaid night shift differentials. The County has agreed to restore paying night shift differential for the entire shift worked and admitted they should not have discontinued the practice. This will be reconciled in January. Regarding the FLSA overtime differentials based on stability pay, the county will pay this only at the end of each year because an employee who quits prior to receiving the stability pay would have been ineligible for that differential. 

CONTRACT: 

The County's initial proposal to MNPEA is:

No increase in wages for 2012 or 2013

No steps increases for 20112 or 2013

Insurance:  2012   Singles pay $60 mo. effective 12/01/2012

                        Family stays the same

                        2013    Singles pay $75 mo. effective 12/01/2013

                        Family the same as 2012.

All insurance had increases in deductibles, especially for not filling out health assessment.

We did not accept this offer and will be going to Mediation as the next step.

STEWARD ELECTION:

Ballots were counted at the Fowler Law Firm on 12/22/11

Dave Deal, President of MNPEA counted the ballots.

The stewards elected were:

Brian Peterson, Phil Miles, Mike Smith, Wade Laszlo, Jodie Hanning, Mike Hendrickson and Jason Herlitz.

My Sentiments

There is a great article from Labor Notes entitled, No-Strike Clauses Hold Back Unions. While you may disagree with the Occupy Movement shutting down the West Coast Ports this article outlines the weakness of current labor contract, "no strike" clauses. 


Some highlights are:


"For more than 75 years, the labor movement has been enclosed by law and custom by collective bargaining, whose goal is to achieve a contract that seals in wages, benefits, a grievance procedure, and work rules. In return, workers and their union agree, crucially, to surrender their right to withhold their labor.The penalties for violation are often severe: stiff fines and imprisonment of union officials."


and


"...Of course, management regularly bypasses or brazenly violates the contract. To remedy these infractions, the union can grieve and finally arbitrate. Although arbitration is heavily weighted on the employers’ side, workers have no other recourse, under the law of the contract.."

READ FULL STORY

Contract News and updates

Steward election ballots are in your mailboxes. Pick up to seven names and mail them in. Ballots will be counted at the Fowler Law Office on Dec. 22nd. You are welcome to watch the count.

Negotiations were held today. 

See our proposals to the county on the uploaded documents file of our e-group.

The main money we asked for was a 4% raise and steps to be paid in 2012-2013.

We also discussed the shift differential grievance and several outstanding grievances.

Also addressed were staffing levels and the Sheriff's policy of not allowing stewards with you in IA unless you are the focus (this will be the focus of another post).

Of special note: Blue Earth County Corrections voted unanimously to join MNPEA today. Welcome aboard.

AFSCME settles/caves

Today, as usual, AFSCME settled with Hennepin County for next to nothing.


In a year when Hennepin County at their Truth in Taxation hearing is predicting a surplus in 2012, AFSCME settled for NO STEPS or COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR 2012. 


This from their website:

Six Hennepin County AFSCME Locals – 34, 552, 1719, 2822, 2864 and 2938 (Essential Unit and Legal Unit) – all voted to accept the contract proposal for 2012-13. Ballots were counted December 9th and the contract was accepted by the members who voted.

The wage increase, effective 2013, is as follows:

Local 34 2.5% across the board - no steps
Local 552 1.5% across the board with steps
Local 2822 2.5% across the board - no steps
Local 2864 2.5% across the board - no steps
Local 2938 (Legal) 2.5% across the board - no steps

Note that Local 1719 and Local 2938 (Essential) had the 1.5 percent across the board with steps as part of their contract proposal from the Employer's last and final offer.

Even our fellow corrections officers at the Hennepin County Workhouse accepted this. That's right, the essential groups. I'm surprised they settled for this pile of excrement rather then insisting that AFSCME take this to arbitration. Surely with the exorbitant dues they pay, AFSCME could have afforded an arbitration.

Contrast this to the raise that our Attorney Rob Fowler got for the Hibbing Police Federation just last month, 2% for 2011 and 2% for 2012! 

It never ceases to amaze me that BIG LABOR UNIONS with big money, charging their members twice what MNPEA dues are encourage their members to settle for slop. Exactly what are they getting for their money?

No steps are unacceptable! 

Correctional Officers Bill of Rights

MSS 241.026 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES.

Subdivision 1.Definitions.

(a) For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings given them.

(b) "Correctional officer" and "officer" mean a person employed by the state, a state correctional facility, or a local correctional or detention facility in a security capacity.

(c) "Formal statement" means the questioning of an officer in the course of obtaining a recorded, stenographic, or signed statement to be used as evidence in a disciplinary proceeding against the officer.

Subd. 2.Applicability.

The procedures and provisions of this section apply to state and local correctional authorities.

Subd. 3.Governing formal statement procedures.

The formal statement of an officer must be taken according to subdivision 4.

Subd. 4.Place of formal statement.

The formal statement must be taken at a facility of the employing or investigating agency or at a place agreed to by the investigating individual and the investigated officer.

Subd. 5.Admissions.

Before an officer's formal statement is taken, the officer shall be advised in writing or on the record that admissions made in the course of the formal statement may be used as evidence of misconduct or as a basis for discipline.

Subd. 6.Disclosure of financial records.

No employer may require an officer to produce or disclose the officer's personal financial records except pursuant to a valid search warrant or subpoena.

Subd. 7.Release of photographs.

No state or local correctional facility or governmental unit may publicly release photographs of an officer without the written permission of the officer, except that the facility or unit may display a photograph of an officer to a prospective witness as part of an agency or unit investigation.

Subd. 8.Disciplinary letter.

No disciplinary letter or reprimand may be included in an officer's personnel record unless the officer has been given a copy of the letter or reprimand.

Subd. 9.Retaliatory action prohibited.

No officer may be discharged, disciplined, or threatened with discharge or discipline as retaliation for or solely by reason of the officer's exercise of the rights provided by this section.

Subd. 10.Rights not reduced.

The rights of officers provided by this section are in addition to and do not diminish the rights and privileges of officers that are provided under an applicable collective bargaining agreement or any other applicable law.

Detention & Radio Positions to be cut

These are the LOW LIGHTS of the November 29, 2011 Hennepin County Board Meeting.

The County Board's original proposal was to cut 20 FTE's (full time employees) from the Sheriff's Office, 10 Licensed Deputies and 10 Detention Deputies. At the Sheriff's request, Commissioner Callison made an amendment to cut no licensed deputies, but instead to cut 5 Detention Deputies, 6 Identification Clerks, 2 OS III's and 1 Telecommunicator.

While I'm thankful that we are not losing 10 Detention Deputies, I find it amazing that while the jail as an institution has minimum staffing requirements, all that can be performed by Detention Staff, the Sheriff chooses to staff the jail with the more expensive licensed staff and decrease the number of less expensive Detention, Clerks and Telecommunicators.

Watch this short clip of the meeting. Commissioner McLaughlin was the only one to vote no.

See my clip from last years budget meeting that outlines the fact that we are 1/2 million dollars a year already overstaffed with Licensed Deputies in the jail. The Sheriff's own staffing analysis says they only need 24 Licensed Deputies in the jail, they currently have over 80. Clearly that's where the savings are to be found.

and they want to freeze your steps?

Hennepin Co. Commissioners Give Themselves Healthy Perk

Commissioners voted 4-3 to approve a perk that could reimburse them up to $2,000 a year for health and fitness. The offer is also extended to the county's other two elected officials, the County Attorney and County Sheriff.

                                                          FULL STORY KSTP

The illogic of the sick time policy

As you all know the HCSO has implemented a new sick time policy that began June 1, 2011 basically stating that if you use more then 96 hours a year of sick time you are in violation of the HCSO sick time use policy (which I believe violates the contract and have grieved), will be put on monitored sick leave and are subject to discipline.

Why did they do this? Why to reduce sick time use of course and save money.

Does this work? Well let's see.

I have a recurring back problem with a disc that flares up occasionally causing me to miss a day or two of work. Because of the new sick time policy I was put on monitored sick leave. Subsequently I had my doctor put me on intermittent Family Medical Leave (FML) to keep from being disciplined when this occurs.

A couple of days ago I aggravated my back changing a tire and missed two days of work on FML. But I can't go back to work per the employer until I get a note from my doctor who can't see me until 1 PM tomorrow!

What does this mean? The HCSO will have to cover my shift tomorrow with overtime, they will pay me another day off at straight time and because they are now self insured they will pay my doctor to see me.

I can see the savings already! No wonder they want to raise our health insurance premiums again.