Hennepin County vs Ramsey County Detention

 This is a comparison between Hennepin County and Ramsey County. It will compare salaries of their respective Sheriffs and Detention Deputies. 

 Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek

Salary: $151,102 in 2012
 (up from $145,181 in 2008)

Hennepin County Detention Deputy pay:

Start $17 an hour. Top *$27 an hour after 8 years

*Hennepin  froze steps and wages for 5 years ending in 2013.

Vacation: 23 days after 18 years

Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Bostrom

Salary: $135, 631 in 2012

Ramsey County Detention Deputy pay:

Start $22 hr, $31hr at 5 years, top at 20 years $34 hr

Vacation: 25 days after 18 years

Hennepin County Jail Capacity: 839 beds

Ramsey County Jail Capacity: 500 beds


Things to consider:

Why did the Hennepin County Sheriff's pay go up $6,000 in a four year period Detention Deputy wages were static?

Why does the Ramsey County Sheriff make $16,000 a year less than the Hennepin County Sheriff, while Ramsey County Detention Deputies make an average of $4 an hour more than Hennepin County Detention Deputies?

My opinion is it's priorities. Ramsey County places a higher emphasis on employee attraction and retention. Hennepin County places a higher priority on department heads.

Even the schedule at the Ramsey County jail is employee friendly, four 8 hour days on, 2 off. The schedule's details are spelled out in the contract.

Hennepin County Detention Deputies suffer a 28/8 schedule where days off are bid, and they refuse to put into contract the rules for the schedule.

If Hennepin County is interested in better employee retention they would consider  higher pay for the biggest busiest, most dangerous jail in Minnesota (currently Hennepin County pay is dead last in the 7 county metro area) and actually putting the rules for the schedule into the Contract.

We await Hennepin County's counter offer on October 29th.

Berntson Family Help Needed

On March 15th 2012, Detention Sergeant Brad Berntson, died after being bitten by an HIV positive inmate. The side effects from the anti-viral medications killed him. 

It has yet to be declared what it is, a death in the line of duty, by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. As a result his widow and family have a greatly reduced death benefit.

His family needs help with yard clean-up to sell the house. On Saturday October 26th at 9 AM they are needing people to help with yard work.

If you are able to help email Brad Laudert at bjlaudert@msn.com for a head count (food will be served) and directions. 

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.

County Postpones 2 year old sick time arbitration

Dear members,

Hennepin County has obtained a continuance of our 2 year old sick time grievance. It was slated for October 22nd, now it's kicked back to December or January. 

They had a list of arbitrators over a year ago when we had our last contact arbitration. It sat and fucking sat.

Finally we got a date for October 22nd. Now, again, it's not happening. Meanwhile more and more of our members keep getting written up and placed on monitored sick leave. 

For two fucking years our grievance has remained unresolved.

The County cited the fact that 2 of their 3 Labor Relations staff have resigned, including the Labor Relations Attorney who handled grievance arbitration.

Well none of these resignations were overnight. Maybe if they didn't freeze their wages so many times, like ours, they wouldn't be leaving for better paying jobs like so many of our staff.

The County reminds the arbitrator that, "It should be noted that the case in question is a contract interpretation matter which does not involve a financial remedy or any back pay." 

Let me remind the County that it is costing our members time and money (co-pays) to be forced to go to the doctor in order to return to work after calling in sick. Let me remind the County that they are self insured and it is costing them a couple of hundred dollars every time we are forced to go to the doctor for a "note from mom." 

Everyday this contract violation goes unresolved it costs our members, the county and ultimately the taxpayers money. Money wasted on unnecessary healthcare costs.

Minneapolis Firefighters Union working against MNPEA

Dear members,

Currently AFSCME is attempting to remove at State level, the Minnesota Public Employees Association (MNPEA) right to represent members. A fight they have lost at the Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS) twice before.

They've also enlisted the help of other Unions in an attempt to eliminate our right to chose anyone but the usual large Corporate Unions. One such Union assisting them by writing letters disparaging the MNPEA is Minneapolis Firefighters Union Local 82 and their President Mark Lakosky.

This is a letter I sent to Minneapolis Firefighter Union Local 82 President Mark Lakosky:

Mr. Lakosky,

What is YOUR problem with my Union, the Minnesota Public Employees Association (MNPEA)? Why is the Fire Fighters Union getting involved in who other Union workers choose as their exclusive Representative? Why are you writing letters bad mouthing us?

I also remember when Police and Fire tried to prevent us Corrections Officers from getting our 55 retirement back in the late 90's.

Do fireman have a problem with corrections officers? Do we interfere with your Union or Pensions? No, but we could start if you want. I do believe your pension (Police and Fire) is in the red while ours (Correctional)  is in the black


http://detentionhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/mnpea-response-to-afscme-smack-talk.html

Wade Laszlo
Steward MNPEA

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

Contract Negotiations

Today we had the first round of contract negotiations.  MNPEA Detention Deputies, Techs and Radio gave our initial proposal today based on member input.

I will limit this blog primarily to the proposals for jail staff, but will upload the total proposal to our e-group (if you aren't on it email me to be added).

Art. 10 Work Schedules Premium Pay

-Raise shift differential. Nights & Weekends to $1.10 an hour


Sec. 11 Specialty Pay

- FTO pay to $3.00 an hour

-Specialty Pay. SRT, Court Staging, Release, Intake Control, Classification

-Policy change. 16 hour overtime limitation per week changed to 32 per pay period

Article 12 Vacations

-Raise top to 25 days per year (in line with the State)

Art. 13 Sick Leave

PTO "me too" with Workhouse Language

Art. 17 Salary Rates

3% Cost of Living  2014 and 2015 AND Market Adjustment
(We are dead last in the Metro Area and the biggest, busiest jail. By Comparison, Ramsey County Detention Deputies make $31 an hour after 5 years, $32 an hour at 10 years and $34 an hour after 20 years.)**SEE FOOTNOTE

Art. 34 Discipline & Discharge

add Oral Reprimands can be removed after 2yrs

**FOOTNOTE
The County Stated that Ramsey is an anomaly and not a comparison. However at our last contract arbitration,  Arbitrator Mary Jo Schiavoni stated:

Both Ramsey County and the state of Minnesota correctional employees are appropriate external comparisons. These are two large public employers located within the same geographic area. They are competitors for employees in the same labor market in which Hennepin County functions. All of the Met Council 7 County Metro counties are also appropriate 
for comparison purposes.

September Update

Contract negotiations begin for us on September 27th.

Arbitration is set for October 22nd for the Sick Time use grievance.

And the Afscme Corrections Officers at the Workhouse filed cards with the Bureau of Mediation Services to vote on a change of Representation. They want to join MNPEA. That means NEGOTIATIONS HAVE STOPPED FOR AFSCME, AT LEAST THE WORKHOUSE. This means AFSCME can't settle and set the pattern! It also means if the Workhouse CO's come over it  will never matter again what AFSCME settles for because the workhouse are essential employees like us.

Cards filed for Hennepin County Workhouse

Last week cards for an election for a Change of Representation were filed with the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services for the Hennepin County Adult Corrections Center. There was a super majority.

Hennepin County Labor Relations was sent a letter by the State of Minnesota. issuing an order of Status Quo. This means AFSCME cannot negotiate the contract, but must continue to represent in grievances and discipline.

What happens now?

The  Bureau of Mediation Services will send a ballot to every Corrections Officer in the bargaining unit. In the privacy of your home you will decide if you want to have the MNPEA as your Exclusive Representative or remain with AFSCME.

If the Corrections Officers at the Workhouse choose MNPEA, the current contract remains in FULL FORCE, despite AFSCME propaganda, and negotiations will resume with the MNPEA as your Representative.

Also for the first time ever to my knowledge, the Workhouse CO's will bargain as essential employees, not mixed with the non-essentials if the MNPEA is chosen.


Here's a list of current MNPEA groups:

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

Edina Police Dispatchers

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

Red Wing Police

Rice County Deputies

Rice County Sgts

Sibley County Sheriff, Essentials

St. Louis County Sheriff, Supervisors Unit

University of Minnesota Police

Washington County Corrections & Dispatch

White Bear Lake Police

Wilkin County Deputies

Wilkin County Corrections & Dispatch

Winthrop Police

Happy Labor Day

AFSCME Workhouse questions answered

I am getting emailed many questions from Hennepin County Workhouse AFSCME members. Just to be sure the word is spread beyond just the emailers I will post some of the answers here to questions and AFSCME misinformation..

Misinformation: AFSCME will get a raise but if you go to the MNPEA you won't.

Fact: Raises come from the County not the Union. The County typically offers every organized bargaining unit the SAME raise. Because AFSCME always lumps their essential Corrections Officers with the non-essential clerks and janitors you actually have a BETTER chance of getting a bigger cost of living adjustment with MNPEA. Consider that Hennepin County CO's are the lowest paid in the seven county metro area. You would not do worse than the county offer, but have a real good chance at doing better if you bargain as essentials with MNPEA.

Misinformation: Side agreements like our bid agreements will disappear.

Fact:  Those agreements are between the employer and YOU, the bargaining unit. Those agreements will remain intact. All of the side agreements we had as Teamsters carried over when we switched to the MNPEA. You can also negotiate NEW side agreements with the employer as MNPEA members.

Misinformation:  You will pay MNPEA $39 a check in dues.

Fact: Dues are only $39 a month and includes the Legal Protection Plan.

Misinformation:  The MNPEA legal plan only covers up to $5,000 and they decide who they cover and who they won't. 

Fact:  Right from the MNPEA website: 

I.  Criminal Charges – Trial & Defense: Complete legal representation (all attorneys fees paid) for criminal charges (including DWI and Criminal Traffic matters- meaning where jail time may be potentially be imposed), whether job related or not, on duty or off duty, within the State of Minnesota.  Covers all attorneys fees for all stages of representation, from pre-charging to sentencing. 

The $5,000 number comes from the part of the MNPEA Plan covering other expenses:

Additionally, all costs (costs are not attorneys fees- these are expenses the firm pays out of pocket or advances to the client’s case) incurred by the Firm shall have a maximum coverage of $5,000 per case.  Cost may include, but are not limited to, online legal research fees, mileage (excluding Fowler’s mileage), filing fees, copy expenses, fax expenses, obtaining police reports, expert witness fees and retainers, depositions, statements, fingerprints, collection of physical evidence, hiring private investigators, etc.  For costs in excess of $5,000, the Member shall be personally responsible. 

There are several MNPEA members who have used this plan for things ranging from DWI, Disorderly Conduct, Domestic Assault and even a fire pit that got out of control. They did not spend a penny.

Also consider how much you would spend to defend yourself from an inmate allegation of sexual misconduct under the PREA.

Misinformation: We will wait until after the contract is settled. After all the AFSCME State Corrections Officers got a 3% and 3% cost of living. We don't want to jeopardize that. 

Fact:  If you wait until after the AFSCME contract is settled you will not be able to drop them for 2 years. The open period for contracts is between 120 days and 60 days before the contract expires. For Hennepin County that means you can only change exclusive reps in September and October every two years. Again, the County will offer everyone the same raise as a starting point.

Changing Representation should not be taken lightly.  Ask yourself these questions:

Does my business agent represent the rank and file concerns or the larger political ones of the Union?

Does my Union back me when I have a grievance?

Does my money go to overpaid fat cats and politicians rather than arbitrations for member concerns?

Does the Union care about my shop, or are we lumped in with job classes we have nothing in common with?

If I am a Public Employee does my Union have Legal Representaion, because my job could depend on it?

Why hasn't my Union paid any attention to us until we started filling out cards to leave? 

Can I take another 2 years of AFSCME?

If you are happy with your current representation vote to stay.

If not, it's time to end a bad relationship, vote to join MNPEA and get the representation you deserve.

REMEMBER THIS IS A BLOG. FEEL FREE TO POST QUESTIONS ON THIS BLOG AND I CAN ANSWER FOR ALL TO SEE. YOU CAN POST ANONYMOUSLY. 

An Open Letter To AFSCME Members Seeking To Join MNPEA

Let me preface this by saying that I am a CO and a Union Steward. I am a member of the MNPEA, not an employee. This is based on my experience of us Hennepin County Detention Deputies decertifying Teamsters Local 320 two years ago and us than certifying the MNPEA as our exclusive rep.

Once your current Union discovers that you are filling out cards to leave, the propaganda begins. Teamsters sent out a mailing telling us we could lose our seniority, benefits and that the contract would be non-existent until it was negotiated from scratch with the new Union. 

Fact: The contract is between you and the employer. The ONLY thing changing is who you have to represent your interest in your part of the contract. 

Every aspect of the contract between you and the employer stays the same.

Once the Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS) has your cards authorizing an election they will mail out a ballot to every member of your bargaining unit. Each individual will vote in the privacy of their home and mail the ballot back to the BMS.

The BMS will set a date to count the ballots. On that day witnesses from the MNPEA and AFSCME will watch the BMS count the ballots. Whoever gets at least 51% of the ballots returned will be your groups Exclusive Representative. Teamsters Local 320 only got one vote when we voted them out.

Representation changes hands at midnight that night if the MNPEA wins, and your legal coverage begins. If the MNPEA loses then nothing changes with you and your current Union.

Prior to the election your present Union MUST continue to represent you in grievances, discipline, etc. If they do not they are open for a Failure to Represent Lawsuit. Larger Unions have been known to threaten members. That is not legal. 

Once the change was made with us, the MNPEA held Steward elections (some of us had been removed as Stewards by Teamsters) then we proceeded to negotiations.

I really hope the Hennepin County Workhouse CO's come over. You are essential employees and have been forced to bargain with the non-essentials. To my knowledge AFSCME never gave you a contract arbitration. If you chose the MNPEA you will bargain only with and as essential employees. Your salary will not be comparable to the non-essentials.

If any of you has a questions feel free to email me at wade.laszlo@gmail.com

In solidarity,

Wade Laszlo

Detention Deputy Down

LODD: PHOENIX, AZ

Detention Officer Jorge Vargas
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, AZ
EOW: 8/8/2013

Officer Jorge Vargas was murdered Thursday morning at 4 am, after being shot in the driveway of his Arizona home while he prepared to head to work.

It appeared that Officer Vargas might have been working on his truck since the hood was up and the driver-side door was open. Vargas was found on the ground beside that truck.

Officer Vargas was an eight-year veteran of the department's Custody Support Bureau in the jail’s food factory, but he often came into contact with inmates.

Officer Vargas is survived by his loving wife, his 5 year old son and his parents.

God comfort his family, friends and partners during this difficult time...Pray God accepts his soul...

RIP Brother...

http://www.azfamily.com/news/Suspect-in-West-Phoenix-shooting-on-the-loose-218830801.html

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.

MNPEA Legal in Action

Last night I received a call from one of our stewards at the Hennepin County Jail. There had been a critical incident. He called the MNPEA 24 Hour Hotline. In no time at all Rob Fowler and another MNPEA attorney were on scene to be with our members as they gave statements to investigators.

Thanks again Rob and MNPEA.

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.

AFSCME in your kitchen

GoAnimate.com: AFSCME+in+your+kitchen by theunholy666


Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Knock, knock

The Hennepin County Workhouse Corrections Officers are strongly considering joining the MNPEA. The advantage would be that rather than being lumped in with the non-essentials as AFSCME always does, they would finally bargain as essential employees. The Hennepin County ACF Corrections Officers and the Hennepin County Detention Deputies could bargain as the majority of the Essential Hennepin County Employees and it wouldn't matter what the non-essentials settled for.

 AFSCME Union reps are calling our members and even knocking on our doors. Scared? They should be. All of the Arrowhead AFSCME corrections groups have already joined MNPEA. .See the full list of MNPEA groups  here. Of course one must wonder where they got a list of Corrections Officers names, addresses and phone numbers. Also, in States like Wisconsin over 40% of AFSCME's bargaining units went FAIR SHARE. Why? They don't represent their members. While AFSCME members have endured wage freezes and cuts, AFSCME CEO's, er Leaders took hefty salaries. For instance,.Intl. President Gerald Mcentee made a cool $1,121,988 in 2012. Go to Union Facts.com to see all of their salaries. You'll get the point.

Let's compare representation:

MNPEA Dues - $39 a month, including the Legal Protection

AFSCME Dues-1.5% taken out of every check.

MNPEA Legal Plan- Full on and Off Duty protection, no extra cost.

AFSCME-NO LEGAL DEFENSE! As a Corrections Officer why would you risk criminal and legal action out of your pocket? Especially in the era of the PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act).

MNPEA, Attorneys at Internal Affairs interviews

AFSCME, Not

MNPEA, Attorneys at Step 2 Grievances

AFSCME, Not

MNPEA, 24 hour hotline. Attorneys available for all critical incidents, day and night.

AFSCME, Not

Maybe AFSCME should spend less on CEO size salaries and politicians and more on members.

Workhouse Corrections Officers, every contract they force you to bargain with non-essential employees. By law, you could have bargained separately, and should have. As essentials you have no right to strike, instead you have the right to binding arbitration. AFSCME has NEVER arbitrated your contract.

One more point. For years us Detention Deputies wanted to be in the same bargaining unit as the Workhouse CO's. We had two obstacles. Teamsters Local 320 and AFSCME. They had a "no raid" clause and required whoever decertified the one to go a full year non-union before joining the other. Get rid of the last obstetrical. Join MNPEA!

Arbitrator Picked

The Arbitrator has been picked for the Sick Time Grievance. It is former Hennepin County Judge Harry S. Crump.  I will keep you posted on the date. The issue is that the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office arbitrarily created a 96 hour sick time limit in June of 2011 without negotiating it, then enforced it retroactively one year. Since then people have been written up for taking sick family members to hospitals, pregnancies even using fitness for health!!

The weird part is, is that at a time the County became self insured the Sheriff's Office is forcing people to go to the doctor on monitored sick leave.

The contract is clear on what you can use sick time for, not how much can be used.

IN THE NEWS

Corrections Corporation of America Loses Four Prison Contracts This Month

This is an interesting read. Private prisons billing the State for posts they weren't manning.

What happens when Internal Affairs is Wrong?

What happens when Internal Affairs is wrong?

Well, it just cost the California Department of Corrections about $1,000,000 and "Now the California Correctional Peace Officers Association wants the investigators investigated."

Full story here: The Sacramento Bee

I've been a Union Steward probably longer then a lot of you have been in Corrections. I've sat in Internal Affairs investigations where they were just fact finding, but I've also sat in ones where it appeared there was a pre-determined outcome they were steering towards. 

I also have personally been involved on two occasions when our own Internal Affairs has violated our members Garrity Rights. 

I can only advise, never go to Internal Affairs without contacting our MNPEA attorneys. If you get a letter to go to I.A. call 651 287-8883. Do not go alone. 

Do not be pressured to give a statement without representation because they are in a hurry. It is your contractual and legal right.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/04/5468605/judge-says-witnesses-evidence.html#storylink=cpy

Results of Steward Election

The following members were elected Steward in the Hennepin County Detention Deputies Unit:

       1.  Phil Miles

       2.  Wade Lazlo

       3.  Ben Ebbers

       4.  Jason Herlitz

       5.  Mike Smith

       6.  Newton D'Taillefer

       7.Ted Westerdahl

Thanks for your support. We are here for you!

May MNPEA member meeting

There is a MNPEA member meeting

on Thursday, May 9 at 6 PM

2233 N Hamline Ave 

Roseville, MN 55113

The meeting will be in the basement meeting room by the swimming pool.

MNPEA also is passing on that it is National Correctional Officers Week.

We also would like to welcome the Edina Police Dispatchers Unit!

Steward Election Ballots

Look in your mail boxes. Union Steward election ballots will be in all MNPEA member boxes. Choose up to 7 names.

March 15th Grievance Hearing

Today our attorney, a grievant and myself met with the employer for a Step 2 Grievance hearing regarding the 16 hour rule and the Tattoo issue.

16 Hour Grievance: This arose because a night shift deputy was written up for violating the 16 hour rule, when in reality he hadn't. As you know we are not allowed to work more than 16 hours of overtime in a seven day period.

He worked 16 hours between a Thursday and the following Wednesday. He then signed up and worked the first 4 hours on a Friday. Because a night shift begins at 10:30 PM and runs until 6:30 AM, the payroll system counted it as if he worked it on Thursday rather then Friday he signed up for. Never mind the same system correctly paid him for the same thing a couple of months ago.

Management has 10 days to make a decision. I think our case was well presented.

The Tattoo issue: There's nothing that doesn't make my stomach churn about this. The Union position is that this is a new condition of employment and therefore needs to be negotiated. Per our Agreement.

The employer position is that Sheriff Stanek has the right to set grooming standards, per a lawsuit Sheriff Omodt won in District Court in the 80's over mustaches and fingernails. Therefore they believe, the Sheriff has the authority, they won't hear the grievance and if we want to pursue it we can go to court.

The Union position is that Tattoos are not "grooming," and therefore should be negotiated as a condition of employment.

I did bring up our displeasure at the fact that the Detention Deputy they let go under the Tattoo policy was denied unemployment because the County told the State Unemployment Office she was "fired for misconduct." The County said that she has since appealed and is now receiving unemployment.

So here we stand.

Reminder:

The sheet to self nominate for a Union Steward Position is up on the bulletin board until March 23rd. Get involved!

The jail experience from a customer point of view

This blog post was forwarded to me. It's a first hand account of a blogger who had the misfortune of getting a "tour" of our facility. He describes his experience from the squad car on. It's entertaining, accurate and enlightening from a jailer's perspective. The writer is not a regular, just a guy who didn't take care of some business and ended up at our facility.

I encourage you to read it and smile:

So I Went to Jail Last Night.

Wait there's more (I got the link from the first comment on this post):

So I Went to Jail Last Night: Bonus Track

Tattoo Gate-Hennepin County Sheriff's Office

This is a real life example of my Semper Fi Don't Apply post.  Star Tribune reporter, Rochelle Olson wrote a story about Ryan Stevens and several other Hennepin County Sheriff's Office applicants who were turned away simply because of the new "no visible Tattoo" policy. 

From what the article presented, Mr. Stevens seems an ideal candidate. He already works in the field as a Corrections Officer with the Minnesota Department of Corrections and has a degree in Law Enforcement. 

Our Union, the Minnesota Public Employees Association (MNPEA) has an active grievance against the Sheriff's Office regarding this policy. The reason being that Sheriff Stanek has suddenly made Tattoos a condition of employment without negotiating it in violation of our contract. Unfortunately, unilateral action without regard to the contract seems to be a hallmark of this administration.

Sheriff Stanek's Personal Information Officer is quoted in the Star Tribune article saying in response to the Tattoo issue: 

"Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Lisa Kiava said the priority is the safety of the people in the jail. About 70 percent of the male inmates have used illegal narcotics in the hours before they are arrested and some are drunk while they are being booked. She said another 30 percent are mentally ill.

"We are working with a challenging population," she said"

What the hell kind of response is that? The Sheriff's Office response doesn't even address the issue. Maybe the Sheriff is still stuck in gun control talking points mode. 

Many of us long term Detention Deputies and the Licensed Deputies have ink. It's never been an issue. The article even states that the Sheriff's Office is the only Hennepin County Department with such a policy. It's not an issue at the County Workhouse or Juvenile Center. This appears to be Sheriff Stanek's personal issue.

Policies such as this will only make it increasingly difficult to hire good people. The Sheriff's Office must already overcome the fact that the Hennepin County jail has the lowest starting pay of any seven county metro area jail (even though it's the largest and most dangerous), employees must pay a lot of money to park downtown and the current schedule makes it almost impossible to get weekends off until an employee has been there for five years.

Good luck Mr. Stevens, you seem a good candidate and I'm sure you'll find a good job in the field. The loss is on the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office that let a potentially good employee slip away over something as trivial as tattoos.

Semper Fi? Don't Apply!

Hey Marines and other veterans. Proud of your service? Did you get a visible tattoo on your arm?

Well you are not welcome to work for the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office!

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota will not hire you. They have a new no visible tattoo policy and are enforcing it with a vengeance for their new hires and perspective hires.

This week a newly hired detention deputy of four months was walked out. She had a three year old tattoo on her arm that said, MPLS (short for Minneapolis).

They never noticed it during her back-grounding or training. Even though she wore a short sleeved polo shirt for training.

They didn't notice it until about 4 months into her employment. I'm told someone noticed it on her while watching a training film she was in. She was told to remove it or resign. She did neither.She offered to keep it covered. Not enough. This week she was walked out.

In discussing the tattoo policy at one of her hearings I asked about veterans with tattoos. I was told they had already turned some away.

So much for veteran friendly.

So I repeat, Semper Fi? Don't apply!


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Dean Enge hs passed

Dean Enge, worked at the Hennepin County Adult Corrections Facility (the Workhouse) as a Senior Corrections Officer for 26 years. He was the Chief Steward for their AFSCME Corectional Officers for many years.

Most of you will remember him as a Workhouse Transport Driver. I will always remember him as a Union Steward that worked hard for his members.

Rest in Peace. You will be missed.

See his obituary for full details.

Funeral services for Dean David Enge will be held on Saturday, February 2nd, 2013 at 6:00 P.M. at The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. Pastor Phillip Jackson will officiate. 

A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 2nd from 4-7 P.M. Pastor Phillip Jackson will officiate.

Honorary Casket Bearers are all The Employees of The Hennepin County Adult Correctional Facility.

Arrangements for Dean Enge are by The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com

PTSD study in Correctional Officers

 Brie Pileggi, former Hennepin County Detention Deputy, is working on her doctorate in clinical psychology and writing her dissertation on the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among corrections officers. 

She writes, "Recent research found that nationwide, 31% of corrections officers and jailers were found to have PTSD, which is a rate approximately two times higher than the rates for post 9/11 NY fire fighters, Operation Iraqi Freedom soldiers, and emergency medical professionals. Just to give you an idea of the magnitude of this problem, the general population had a rate of only 3.5%. It was also found that on average, those who had PTSD called in sick seven times more per year than those who did not." 

She wants to survey all of us Detention Deputies, as well as DOC Correctional officers. The HCSO is not willing to distribute the survey via their email so I am asking all of you to share your email addresses with me for that purpose. I will also add your name to our egroup. 

Email wade.laszlo@gmail.com with your name and email address. I will add you to our egroup and share it with Brie for this very valuable research.

 Brie also wrote: "The MN Department of Corrections, where I worked for a while after I left the county, posted the full article on their internal website for their employees:

http://desertwaters.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/PTSD_Prev_in_Corrections_2012.pdf"

I encourage you to click on the link and read it.

The Importance of Negotiation and the Contract

The Sheriff's Office wants to do something contrary to the contract. They want to move the shift bid from February 15 to January 15. Sounds innocuous enough until you consider a couple of things.

 First of all our contract states in Article 7, sec 4:

On or about February 15 and August 15 of each year, each Detention Deputy and Detention Technician shall be permitted to bid for the shift such employee prefers within the work unit of the Sheriff's Office to which such Detention Deputy and Detention Technician is assigned.  

Last year the Sheriff's Office  delayed the shift bid by 2 weeks and wouldn't respond to emails or calls as to why until we filed a grievance and the County sided with us.

Secondly, during negotiations we tried to add seniority to that clause for bidding our days off on the 28 day schedule. They would have none of it. (They don't want any contract language relating to the 28 day schedule). That was also the time they could have negotiated to move the shift bid date. But as we know they don't negotiate, they just tell us what they want.

Third, they just won their arbitration and they got 100% of everything they wanted and we got nothing...now they want our permission to violate the contact!

The Facts: YOU own the contract. This is the language in it. The only way for MNPEA to agree to a change is for 100% of you to approve it...that couldn't happen in 48 hours.

Finally, the email from the Administration wasn't even addressed to us, it was addressed to the Licensed Deputy Association with MNPEA as a CC.

Hey Hennepin County, the time for changes is at the bargaining table. This summer when we sit at the bargaining table feel free to negotiate that clause in the contract, but we will want something too. There's a novel idea, actually negotiating rather than the usual B.S. of settling with AFSCME then shoving the deal down our throat.

*1/18/13 Update
Hennepin County Labor Relations informed me the Shift Bid will take place on or about February 15 as the Contract states.

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