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!