THIS IS AN OFFICIAL NEWS SITE FOR CURRENT AND RETIRED CORRECTIONS OFFICERS! This blog will keep up on current events affecting Detention Deputies and Corrections Officers. SINCE 2006!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Press Release: No Confidence in Sheriff Stanek
PRESS RELEASE
The Teamsters Local 320 Union member Detention Deputy and Technicians employed at the Hennepin County Jail have taken a VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE against Hennepin County Sheriff Richard Stanek and his ability to run the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Jail Division.
The text of the vote signed by the Teamsters Local 320 union members reads:
LETTER OF NO CONFIDENCE IN SHERIFF RICHARD STANEK
We the undersigned represent the majority of the Teamsters Local 320 Detention Deputies and Detention Technicians employed at the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility. The administration of Hennepin County Sheriff Richard Stanek is anti-union and anti-employee. The Sheriff’s Administration under Richard Stanek has imposed a schedule that has created hardship amongst the Union employees and has repeatedly not abided by promises made during Meet and Confer meetings with Teamsters Local 320 including not abiding by the agreement as to the number of employees allowed off for vacation time, has repeatedly changed posted schedules after employees have made plans without regard for their personal lives or those of their families and has engaged in excessive discipline of Union members. We the undersigned have NO CONFIDENCE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF HENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF RICHARD STANEK and sign of our own free will.
CONTACT: WADE LASZLO
Chief Steward Teamsters Local 320
Hennepin County Jail Bargaining Unit 763/807-6668
Email: steward320@msn.com
CONTACT: TOM PERKINS
Business Agent Teamsters Local 320
612/378-8716
Saturday, December 12, 2009
A Call To Arms
All Teamsters who can come to the assistance of our Teamster police officers in Albert Lea, Minnesota are urged to come to the rally on Monday, December 14th at 5 PM.
The City of Albert Lea is threatening to lay off Teamster police officers even after they agreed to a temporary 50% cut in benefits. Not enough for the City of Albert Lea.
Teamsters Local 320 Business agent Mike Golen said, “This is a public safety issue. The amount of police the city will have left will be below minimums to protect the city.”
Please join in solidarity with the Teamster Freeborn County deputies and correctional officers as well as the Teamsters Albert Lea police at this rally.
Meet at 5 PM at the Moose Lodge in Albert Lea. Burgers will be provided.
6:30 March on City Hall
The Moose Lodge is located at:
328 Main Ct, Albert Lea, MN 56007
For more information contact Mike Golen
612 849-4318
The City of Albert Lea is threatening to lay off Teamster police officers even after they agreed to a temporary 50% cut in benefits. Not enough for the City of Albert Lea.
Teamsters Local 320 Business agent Mike Golen said, “This is a public safety issue. The amount of police the city will have left will be below minimums to protect the city.”
Please join in solidarity with the Teamster Freeborn County deputies and correctional officers as well as the Teamsters Albert Lea police at this rally.
Meet at 5 PM at the Moose Lodge in Albert Lea. Burgers will be provided.
6:30 March on City Hall
The Moose Lodge is located at:
328 Main Ct, Albert Lea, MN 56007
For more information contact Mike Golen
612 849-4318
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Teamster Harold Yates has passed on
Retired local Teamster executive Harold Yates died Monday and will be buried Friday. He was 75.
His union career started in 1960, driving trucks for Admiral Merchant.
His first stint as a union official came in 1967, when he was elected recording secretary for Teamsters Local 120. He served as vice president before being elected president in 1972. He was re-elected several times until he retired in 1998.
He also served as a Teamsters international representative and president of Teamsters MN Joint Council 32.
Full Story
Obituary
Visitation at the WULFF WOODBURY FUNERAL HOME, 2195 Woodlane Drive on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009 from 4-9 PM. Mass of Christion Burial at TRANSFIGURATION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 6133 15th St. N., Oakdale on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 at 10 AM. Visitation at the church one hour prior to Mass. Interment Union Cemetery, Maplewood, MN. Memorials preferred. WULFF WOODBURY 651-738-9615
His union career started in 1960, driving trucks for Admiral Merchant.
His first stint as a union official came in 1967, when he was elected recording secretary for Teamsters Local 120. He served as vice president before being elected president in 1972. He was re-elected several times until he retired in 1998.
He also served as a Teamsters international representative and president of Teamsters MN Joint Council 32.
Full Story
Obituary
Visitation at the WULFF WOODBURY FUNERAL HOME, 2195 Woodlane Drive on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009 from 4-9 PM. Mass of Christion Burial at TRANSFIGURATION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 6133 15th St. N., Oakdale on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 at 10 AM. Visitation at the church one hour prior to Mass. Interment Union Cemetery, Maplewood, MN. Memorials preferred. WULFF WOODBURY 651-738-9615
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
You can bank all 11 Holidays!
A brief history of Holidays in the jail.
Prior to January 2000 all Holidays in the jail were worked, and worked at straight time! We began a push in the mid 1990’s to have parity with all other county employees and have an equivalent number of days off.
Sheriff McGowen and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office were sued. Our previous union LELS was decertified and we became Teamsters. Our first Teamsters contract secured the Holidays. This was not without a cost to us. The Sheriff’s Office was concerned about the cost of 11 additional days off (no more then every other county employee) but we gave up the 1.5% inconvenient work schedule pay in Article 3, section 3 of our Agreement to offset this perceived additional cost and get the Holiday benefit. That’s right, we took a 1.5% pay cut to have this.
The contract was very specific, employees who work a designated Holiday “should receive a deferred holiday off for each holiday .” The HCSO under Sheriff McGowan then began to pay us cash equivalent rather then letting us have a deferred holiday off.
A grievance was filed which led to the LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING in our agreement which allowed us to bank up to 24 hours of deferred holiday and the employer to cash out balances over 24 hours.
This LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING is no longer in effect. The Letter states: The parties agree to the following interpretation regarding holiday pay under Article 11 for Detention Deputies who are assigned to a 6-3 schedule of 8.5 hour days
NO 6/3, NO CAP ON DEFERRED HOLIDAYS OFF!
YOU CAN BANK ALL HOLIDAYS WORKED AS DEFERRED!
Further more they must let you take deferred holidays off within six months of earning them. They cannot cash out a deferred holiday on the books. (Article 11, sec. C)
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Prior to January 2000 all Holidays in the jail were worked, and worked at straight time! We began a push in the mid 1990’s to have parity with all other county employees and have an equivalent number of days off.
Sheriff McGowen and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office were sued. Our previous union LELS was decertified and we became Teamsters. Our first Teamsters contract secured the Holidays. This was not without a cost to us. The Sheriff’s Office was concerned about the cost of 11 additional days off (no more then every other county employee) but we gave up the 1.5% inconvenient work schedule pay in Article 3, section 3 of our Agreement to offset this perceived additional cost and get the Holiday benefit. That’s right, we took a 1.5% pay cut to have this.
The contract was very specific, employees who work a designated Holiday “should receive a deferred holiday off for each holiday .” The HCSO under Sheriff McGowan then began to pay us cash equivalent rather then letting us have a deferred holiday off.
A grievance was filed which led to the LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING in our agreement which allowed us to bank up to 24 hours of deferred holiday and the employer to cash out balances over 24 hours.
This LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING is no longer in effect. The Letter states: The parties agree to the following interpretation regarding holiday pay under Article 11 for Detention Deputies who are assigned to a 6-3 schedule of 8.5 hour days
NO 6/3, NO CAP ON DEFERRED HOLIDAYS OFF!
YOU CAN BANK ALL HOLIDAYS WORKED AS DEFERRED!
Further more they must let you take deferred holidays off within six months of earning them. They cannot cash out a deferred holiday on the books. (Article 11, sec. C)
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
TB in local jails
Ex-inmate's suit says jail ignored TB signs
In a federal lawsuit filed Monday, the claimant alleges that Ramsey County jail staff ignored obvious symptoms, leaving him disabled.
Full Story: Star Tribune
In a federal lawsuit filed Monday, the claimant alleges that Ramsey County jail staff ignored obvious symptoms, leaving him disabled.
Full Story: Star Tribune
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Hoffa Opposes Tax on our Healthcare
Teamsters President James Hoffa estimates that the tax would affect the health care plans of "hundreds of thousands" of his 1.4 million members.
"We oppose the excise tax because it will be passed on to our people," Hoffa told POLITICO. "We will oppose it in the Senate. We will oppose it in the House. We will oppose it in conference."
Go Hoffa!
Read more: http://www.pittsburghpost-gazette.com/pg/09280/1003592-473.stm#ixzz0WKEo5RIs
"We oppose the excise tax because it will be passed on to our people," Hoffa told POLITICO. "We will oppose it in the Senate. We will oppose it in the House. We will oppose it in conference."
Go Hoffa!
Read more: http://www.pittsburghpost-gazette.com/pg/09280/1003592-473.stm#ixzz0WKEo5RIs
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Possible Layoffs at the Workhouse!
The following was sent to me by their Chief Steward:
There has been a proposal that will be at this budget meeting to close the Work Release building at the ACF and put most of the inmates on Home Monitoring. If this occurs and it is not put back in the budget on Dec. 3 there will be lay offs of Senior Correctional Officers, Correctional Officers, Food Service Workers and Clerical staff. Please pass this on to anyone who may be able to attend.
Thanks,
Dean
They are rallying at the Government Center on Nov. 19th. I'd encourage all of you that can to assist our fellow Correctional Officers.
Here's their Flyer:
Important Public Safety
Meeting On:
Thursday November 19th -- 1 PM to 4 PM
At the Hennepin County Government Center
In the Commissioners Board Room on the 24th Floor.
Local 1719 will pay your Parking and Mileage for members to attend.
Wear Green.
Or
Wear your Uniform. YES, it is okay to wear your uniform.
Make your presence known!!!
Whether you live in Hennepin County or Not,
attend this meeting to show your loyalty to the ACF and that you care about Public Safety and the Community.
We should see Officers, Supervisors, management, Clerks, Probation Officers, civilian staff...
everyone should show up to this Public Meeting.
Notify your family, friends, and neighbors as well.
And don’t forget to call the Commissioners in the mean-time.
There has been a proposal that will be at this budget meeting to close the Work Release building at the ACF and put most of the inmates on Home Monitoring. If this occurs and it is not put back in the budget on Dec. 3 there will be lay offs of Senior Correctional Officers, Correctional Officers, Food Service Workers and Clerical staff. Please pass this on to anyone who may be able to attend.
Thanks,
Dean
They are rallying at the Government Center on Nov. 19th. I'd encourage all of you that can to assist our fellow Correctional Officers.
Here's their Flyer:
Important Public Safety
Meeting On:
Thursday November 19th -- 1 PM to 4 PM
At the Hennepin County Government Center
In the Commissioners Board Room on the 24th Floor.
Local 1719 will pay your Parking and Mileage for members to attend.
Wear Green.
Or
Wear your Uniform. YES, it is okay to wear your uniform.
Make your presence known!!!
Whether you live in Hennepin County or Not,
attend this meeting to show your loyalty to the ACF and that you care about Public Safety and the Community.
We should see Officers, Supervisors, management, Clerks, Probation Officers, civilian staff...
everyone should show up to this Public Meeting.
Notify your family, friends, and neighbors as well.
And don’t forget to call the Commissioners in the mean-time.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Hennepin County's Offer
Here's the low lights of the County's offer to us:
Cost of living raise: 0% for 2010 and 2011
No step increases for 2010 and 2011 (What I find particularly insulting about this is that "steps" were originally a way to save the employer money by not having to pay you what the job is worth for a few years. Fine eliminate the steps and pay everyone top pay!)
Health Care to go up. Higher co-pays, singles to pay $50 a month, family monthly rate to stay the same. The usual passing the cost onto us at the same time they won't even offer a cost of living raise. Can you say, "Shrinking check?"
They offer $150 lump sum fee for 2010 and 2011 to employees making less then $18.00 an hour. Like that's going to make up for freezing your wages!
Freeze Stability Pay for 2010 and 2011. We all know this isn't a freeze but a fucking take back!
NEW: Limited Duration Appointments. "A non-permanent appointment which is expected to last less than two (2) years, including employees whose work schedules are non-continuous or irregular in nature. Such appointments may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director." Are you kidding me? This is just abuse waiting to happen.
So there you have it. My editorial comments are in red.
We are considered essential employees. Essential to Hennepin County simply means you can't strike and they can change your schedule at will! They offer us the same plate of shit they offer everyone else. Two contracts ago we voluntarily accepted a "once in a lifetime" wage freeze. Since then how many of us have been bit by inmates, punched, kicked, spit on? How many have turned positive for tuberculosis? All of us worked a very long stretch, some as many as 15 days straight, of 12 hour days during the RNC. Our thanks? The 28 day schedule that disrupted our lives and this bullshit offer. I'm sorry, do I sound pissed off?
Cost of living raise: 0% for 2010 and 2011
No step increases for 2010 and 2011 (What I find particularly insulting about this is that "steps" were originally a way to save the employer money by not having to pay you what the job is worth for a few years. Fine eliminate the steps and pay everyone top pay!)
Health Care to go up. Higher co-pays, singles to pay $50 a month, family monthly rate to stay the same. The usual passing the cost onto us at the same time they won't even offer a cost of living raise. Can you say, "Shrinking check?"
They offer $150 lump sum fee for 2010 and 2011 to employees making less then $18.00 an hour. Like that's going to make up for freezing your wages!
Freeze Stability Pay for 2010 and 2011. We all know this isn't a freeze but a fucking take back!
NEW: Limited Duration Appointments. "A non-permanent appointment which is expected to last less than two (2) years, including employees whose work schedules are non-continuous or irregular in nature. Such appointments may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director." Are you kidding me? This is just abuse waiting to happen.
So there you have it. My editorial comments are in red.
We are considered essential employees. Essential to Hennepin County simply means you can't strike and they can change your schedule at will! They offer us the same plate of shit they offer everyone else. Two contracts ago we voluntarily accepted a "once in a lifetime" wage freeze. Since then how many of us have been bit by inmates, punched, kicked, spit on? How many have turned positive for tuberculosis? All of us worked a very long stretch, some as many as 15 days straight, of 12 hour days during the RNC. Our thanks? The 28 day schedule that disrupted our lives and this bullshit offer. I'm sorry, do I sound pissed off?
Monday, November 02, 2009
Why Union's Need Lobbyist!
This is exactly the reason Union's need a presence at the Capitol like DRIVE.
The Star Tribune is reporting:
WASHINGTON - Those tax-free spending accounts that you and your co-workers use to help pay for dental work, insurance copayments or over-the-counter drugs face a hit under the health overhaul bills in Congress — unless a coalition that includes a powerful union, insurers and others can stop it.
The Star Tribune is reporting:
WASHINGTON - Those tax-free spending accounts that you and your co-workers use to help pay for dental work, insurance copayments or over-the-counter drugs face a hit under the health overhaul bills in Congress — unless a coalition that includes a powerful union, insurers and others can stop it.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Teamsters Oppose Tax on our healthcare
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today said the proposal to impose a 35 percent tax on insurers for individual health insurance plans worth more than $8,000 is unfair and unnecessary.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Holiday Cards and Care Packages for the Troops
Holiday Cards and Care Packages for the Troops
We will be making & addressing holiday cards and care packages for our troops and mailing them to deployed friends and colleagues from the Hennepin County Jail and to each branch of the military, to be distributed to others who need greetings and goodies around the holidays. If you would like to help by donating (a) cards, (b) items for care packages (See list of items needed), or (c) cash or a check to purchase items and pay for shipping, please contact Deputy Chris Mays before November 7th. Last year was a huge success, but we’d like to try to reach even more of our servicemen and women this year. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Former Deputy Brie Pileggi & Deputy Chris Mays
CARE PACKAGE ITEMS:
· FOOD: coffee, tea, hot cocoa, sugar packets, jerky, raisins, nuts, protein & granola bars, vitamins, koolaid mix, gum, hard candy, oreos, popcorn… (Please, no homemade foods, perishables, or items that will melt).
· CLOTHES (all sizes): socks, men & women’s underwear
· HYGIENE (compact, travel size): razor blades, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, combs, anti-bacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, deodorant, sunscreen, chapstick, shaving cream, kleenex, toilet paper, tampons, sanitary napkins, pony tail holders, lotion…
· WRITING SUPPLIES: pens, pencils, envelopes, paper, blank cards…
· ENTERTAINMENT: books, magazines, playing cards, CDs, DVDs, batteries, hand-held games, comics, puzzle books…
We will be making & addressing holiday cards and care packages for our troops and mailing them to deployed friends and colleagues from the Hennepin County Jail and to each branch of the military, to be distributed to others who need greetings and goodies around the holidays. If you would like to help by donating (a) cards, (b) items for care packages (See list of items needed), or (c) cash or a check to purchase items and pay for shipping, please contact Deputy Chris Mays before November 7th. Last year was a huge success, but we’d like to try to reach even more of our servicemen and women this year. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Former Deputy Brie Pileggi & Deputy Chris Mays
CARE PACKAGE ITEMS:
· FOOD: coffee, tea, hot cocoa, sugar packets, jerky, raisins, nuts, protein & granola bars, vitamins, koolaid mix, gum, hard candy, oreos, popcorn… (Please, no homemade foods, perishables, or items that will melt).
· CLOTHES (all sizes): socks, men & women’s underwear
· HYGIENE (compact, travel size): razor blades, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, combs, anti-bacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, deodorant, sunscreen, chapstick, shaving cream, kleenex, toilet paper, tampons, sanitary napkins, pony tail holders, lotion…
· WRITING SUPPLIES: pens, pencils, envelopes, paper, blank cards…
· ENTERTAINMENT: books, magazines, playing cards, CDs, DVDs, batteries, hand-held games, comics, puzzle books…
Friday, October 16, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
H1N1 and Workers Comp
Must give the credit to Dave B. for uploading the file to our yahoo group:
In order for the flu to be a compensable event under comp, certain requirements must be met:
: the individual must be "in the course and scope of employment" when exposed to the virus
: the exposure must arise out of work (as opposed to being a totally random event)
: work itself must put the individual in harm's way
full story:
http://www.workerscompinsider.com/archives/001042.html
In order for the flu to be a compensable event under comp, certain requirements must be met:
: the individual must be "in the course and scope of employment" when exposed to the virus
: the exposure must arise out of work (as opposed to being a totally random event)
: work itself must put the individual in harm's way
full story:
http://www.workerscompinsider.com/archives/001042.html
Saturday, October 10, 2009
H1N1
By now you've received the Sheriff's Office plan for the H1N1 procedure. It calls upon us to do things we've not done in the past. Like with the RNC we will rise to the occasion as the professionals we are. While the plan may not be perfect it is better to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
I find myself in agreement with Bill Sturgeon when he writes in his "For Those in the Field" column, H1N1 virus may, like the Y2K alarm, turn out to be a big bust, or it may turn out to be the most significant medical event in recent memory. It is better to be prepared than to be caught unprepared.
For those who fall into the high risk group or have infants at home I urge you to notify your supervisor if scheduled in a "red zone."
Overall I think they did a good job putting together the plan. My only disappointment is the reversal on the decision to release without bail non-violent misdemeanors. If it gets bad and we are short of staff and high on inmate count it may be too late to enact that aspect of the plan that got scrapped, and make no mistake it was not scrapped by the committee.
Most of you know I am not exactly known as a company man. I'm not shy about criticizing when I see something I believe is wrong. But on this I think the H1N1 committee did a good job. I hope it's not necessary, but if this H1N1 actually does take off it's better to have a plan in place then just wing it.
I find myself in agreement with Bill Sturgeon when he writes in his "For Those in the Field" column, H1N1 virus may, like the Y2K alarm, turn out to be a big bust, or it may turn out to be the most significant medical event in recent memory. It is better to be prepared than to be caught unprepared.
For those who fall into the high risk group or have infants at home I urge you to notify your supervisor if scheduled in a "red zone."
Overall I think they did a good job putting together the plan. My only disappointment is the reversal on the decision to release without bail non-violent misdemeanors. If it gets bad and we are short of staff and high on inmate count it may be too late to enact that aspect of the plan that got scrapped, and make no mistake it was not scrapped by the committee.
Most of you know I am not exactly known as a company man. I'm not shy about criticizing when I see something I believe is wrong. But on this I think the H1N1 committee did a good job. I hope it's not necessary, but if this H1N1 actually does take off it's better to have a plan in place then just wing it.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Teamsters DRIVE Endorses Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher has been endorsed by Teamsters DRIVE.He supported our Correctional Officers Bill of Rights, our Pension, our Blood Borne Pathogens Bill and is the only Sheriff to testify at the State capital for Corrections Officers. Congratulations Sheriff Fletcher.
Off-duty corrections officer shot near home
CHICAGO
Authorities in Chicago say an off-duty Cook County Correctional Officer has been shot outside his home on the city's southwest side.
Steve Patterson, a spokesman for Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart identified the victim of the Wednesday night shooting as Correctional Officer Jacob Cano.
Patterson said Cano has worked at the Cook County Jail since 2003, and was leaving his home to begin his 11 p.m. shift when he was shot in the back by an unknown assailant.
Authorities in Chicago say an off-duty Cook County Correctional Officer has been shot outside his home on the city's southwest side.
Steve Patterson, a spokesman for Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart identified the victim of the Wednesday night shooting as Correctional Officer Jacob Cano.
Patterson said Cano has worked at the Cook County Jail since 2003, and was leaving his home to begin his 11 p.m. shift when he was shot in the back by an unknown assailant.
The Cook County Correctional Officer's are members of Teamsters Local 714
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