Watch this site for big news on how some of the bigger Unions tried to work against Corrections Officer Pensions.

Big announcement coming in the first part of December!

Members blame AFSCME for problems at Stllwater MCF

As a retired CO who was extremely involved in my Union, my heart is always with the CO's and their efforts to improve workplace conditions. The following letter was forwarded to me from the CO's at Stllwater Prison in the wake of the murder of Joseph Gomm. It highlights the reason many of the larger Unions are loosing members.The members now believe AFSCME became more interested in politics than members. My hope is they form their own  Association to look out for their interests.

Subject: Stillwater

Cc: #DOC_CO-AllStaff; #DOC_FRB-AllStaff; #DOC_FS-Staff; #DOC_LL-AllStaff; #DOC_ML-AllStaff; #DOC_OPH-AllStaff; #DOC_RC-AllStaff; #DOC_RW-AllStaff; #DOC_SCL-AllStaff; #DOC_SHK-AllStaff; #DOC_STW-AllStaff; #DOC_THD-AllStaff
Subject: AFSCME responsibility

Mr. Westmoreland & Mr. Henderson,

I am demanding to know the process that I need to take to stop giving any of my money to this “union” immediately!! Not “fair share” but any money that I was forced to give so you could support your agenda.  The Supreme Court of the United States has recently ruled that I have that right.

This “union” is directly responsible for what has happened yesterday.  This union has silently stood by doing nothing to help our members because they agreed with and promoted this extremely liberal policy of “stopping the harmful effects of long term segregation”.  Numerous officers have been injured and now killed so you could push your liberal agenda.

How many times have Officers spoke up about the harmful effects of short term segregation?  How many staff assaults need to happen for you to realize that this policy is extremely short sighted and utopian thinking?  And this is not the first time you liberal bias has harmed our members.  I will not sit by and promote this ideology by feeding it money.

Several years back you threw our members under the bus when you not only supported the Governor’s plan to lay off about 30,000 employees, you help facilitate it.  And for what?  Your liberal support of same sex marriage and illegal immigrant’s rights.  The first issue really doesn’t affect our membership as a whole.  It has nothing to do with members safety, salary’s or anything our union should be pushing.  The second issue, not only doesn’t affect us as a union, it harms us by taking jobs away from us and our fellow legal Americans.

You also said nothing when some of our fellow AFSCME members decided to protest, wearing ASFCME t-shirts and banners, members of our law enforcement community when a black man was shot by the cops.  You sided with the protesters over our law enforcement and us, as Corrections Officers.

I have done many things for this union.  Writing newsletters, acting as a Secretary, being a E-Board member.  I don’t think there has been one instance of our “union” doing something to benefit us.  Giving us a turkey for Christmas or throwing a bowling party doesn’t count.  Something that really matters is what we want and demand from you.  It’s your job to do that, and you have failed miserably. 

You blindly support one political party over the other and claim we benefit greatly from that support, which is so far from the truth, it’s laughable.  You tell us to vote them is so we get great benefits and pay.  Well, that has never materialized.  In my 26 years here, the largest raise I have gotten was when Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, was our Governor. When I started, Minnesota Corrections Officers were the second highest paid officers in the nation.  I don’t know where we stand today, but it’s nowhere near that.  But our “union” is more concerned with liberal causes than our own members.

I demand that you stop taking my money today.  I am officially denouncing AFSCME.  I will not be part of it or fund it.

Tom Schloesser

Former proud AFSCME Local 3607 member

RIP CO Joseph Gomm

Stillwater Corrections Officer Joseph Gomm had his last watch on July 18, 2018.
According to the Star Tribune he was murdered on duty by an inmate.

Everyday CO's go to work watching the 'bad guys' who were removed from the streets. Everyday they work a dangerous job out of sight and out of mind of Society.

As a retiree I know the long hours, the shift work and constant staff shortages that are a part of the profession. The article says Stillwater was short about 150 staff.

The Star Tribune reports there are over 1,600 inmates at Stillwater Prison and 527 of them are in for homicide.It doesn't mention the number in for assault, robbery, rape and how many are gang members or mentally ill.

Violence is all too common among inmates and towards staff in lock ups.

Joseph Gomm paid with his life keeping the rest of Society safe.
RIP brother.

Leonard Richards runs for U.S. Senate

When I worked at the Hennepin County jail one of our more notorious inmates was Leonard Richards. After being found guilty of 2 homicides he ran, and almost won a School Board seat. Now it looks like he's running for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat!

FULL STORY

BAD Cells from Hennepin County Jail

Portland Teaches Protesters a lesson

When anti ICE protesters blocked the entry to an ICE facility it didn't work out as planned!

News Stories of interest to Henn. Co. Detention Deps

Here's a couple of news stories Hennepin County Detention Deputies will find of interest.

Denny Hecker

One of our more famous former 'guests' Denny Hecker is out of prison.
https://www.twincities.com/2018/07/04/denny-hecker-free-from-federal-custody-minneapolis/

I can still see his privileged self coming back to the Court Staging area after a court appearance thinking he could just sit at the Court Staging desk and use the phone.

Of course he never saw a real Hennepin County Jail cell, maybe because he was 'high profile', maybe because he was a heavy Stanek Donor,  he was given a hospital bed in the Med Room and would ask the nurses for lemonade at 2 AM!

Story number two is a much more common story.

Due to lack of beds at State Mental Health Facilities a man suffering from schizophrenia was at the Hennepin Hilton for over 90 days
http://www.startribune.com/man-with-mental-illness-languishes-in-hennepin-county-jail-for-3-months/487453671/

The story says, "During Traylor’s time in custody, his mental state deteriorated substantially, officials said. He threatened to stab and murder jail staff and engaged in increasingly erratic behavior, such as smearing feces on his cell window, court records show."

Ah, the joys of the third floor!

Very few people realize the range of inmates Detention Deputies are required to deal with professionally. 

Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government....

Janus wins over AFSCME

Janus wins Over AFSCME

The United States Supreme Court has ruled charging Fair Share Dues to unionized public employees is ILLEGAL! A violation of the 1st Amendment.

This will be the end of AFCSME and Teamsters Local 320 if they don't begin representing their members like the MNPEA does! I predict their membership will plummet like happened in Wisconsin after it became a Right to Work State.

I am, and have always been pro-Union, however, when a Union stops representing members and spends all of the member resources supporting politicians rather than members, those members have a right to leave.

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

No. 16–1466 MARK JANUS, PETITIONER v. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, COUNCIL 31, ET AL. ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT [June 27, 2018]

JUSTICE ALITO delivered the opinion of the Court. Under Illinois law, public employees are forced to subsidize a union, even if they choose not to join and strongly object to the positions the union takes in collective bargaining and related activities. We conclude that this arrangement violates the free speech rights of nonmembers by compelling them to subsidize private speech on matters of substantial public concern

Full Ruling HERE

Never forget, be ever vigilant

Driving across Minnesota I saw a sign that said "9-11 Memorial." I quickly exited and found the 9/11, Veterans and First Responders Memorial at a fire station in Rockville, Minnesota.




The memorial features a piece of  a beam from the World Trade Center, Artifact 1-0092A.

I touched it and all of the anger from that day returned.

Almost 17 years ago Islamic Terrorist hijacked planes full of innocent civilians and flew them into buildings full of more innocent civilians.

This touched off a series of wars to punish the perpetrators and their supporters.

At that time it was learned most of the hijackers had over stayed their Visa's. New laws were passed to make sure we knew who was in our country and to make sure no one overstayed or entered illegally.

Almost 17 years later how much has been forgotten? Our current President wants stricter vetting of those coming from countries with a high possibility of terrorism. He wants to secure our borders.

Yet there are those among us who have forgotten. They believe that somehow making sure only good people enter our country is somehow racist.

Minnesota has accepted many of the 'refugees' from some of the countries on the extreme vetting list.
Many Minnesotans have expressed safety concerns about some of these now living here.

Governor Dayton's response was, "If you are that intolerant, if you are that much of a racist or a bigot, than find another state."

Well I believe in being vigilant so only the right people are allowed in. Here's some reasons some Minnesotan's have been concerned about who's been let in.

Mall of America Attack

St. Cloud Mall attack 

St. Catherine arson attack

Supporters of Al Shabaab in Minnesota

Refugees swindling public daycare money to support terror

Minnesotan's convicted of trying to join ISIS

Suicide bombers from Minnesota

US Attorney says Minnesota has a terror recruiting problem

Unfortunately I could go on. The sad fact is much of Minnesota and the U.S. has forgotten.

We must never forget. We must be vigilant as to who is here. Taking the time to vet is good public safety. If you are here legally to be an American, welcome. If you are here illegally or to do us harm
you should be found and prosecuted.

There are people who will take a plane full of your family members and slam them into buildings. There are people who will go to your malls and stab your family members. There are people who will light arson fires in your schools. There are people who will take the money you generously give to help the less fortunate and divert it to terror.

There are also people who are sworn to protect you.

Never Forget!

Happy Memorial Day

Pension Bill Passes

The new PERA Pension Bill has passed. HF3053 and SF2620

Public Employee Pensions have been a hot topic and the original proposals were to cut our annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) down to a maximum of 1.5% with a minimum of 1%.

The PERA Corrections Pension under the new bill will be between 1% and a maximum 2.5% (COLA) based on the Federal cost of living index.

We have been at 2.5% and based on the economy should remain there for the foreseeable future.

See previous postings for all the grit.

Special thanks to Doug Anderson of PERA and the PERA Board for listening to Tom Perkins of MNPEA and myself and recommending to the legislature we cap out at our current 2.5% COLA. Also to my Representative Abigail Whelan for meeting with me and bringing our concerns to the Bill's authors to allow us to remain at the higher COLA.

To all CO's and retiree's out there remember, Teamsters Local 320, AFSCME Council 5 and LELS
had all agreed to cut our PERA Correctional COLA to 1.5%! They called it shared sacrifice.

Thank you legislature and PERA for hearing OUR voices.

PERA Correctional Pension Update

Good news on our Pension front. 

According to  PERA: Strong year for PERA investments.
The investment performance for PERA's three largest retirement plans--the General Employees, Police & Fire, and Correctional Plans--for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, was excellent. The Combined Fund posted a 15.1 percent rate of return for the 12-month period.

and from the PERA Newsletter 

CORRECTIONAL PLAN

The Correctional Plan legislative proposal includes a post-retirement increase to provide 100 percent of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a 1 percent floor, and a 2.5 percent cap until the Plan’s funding ratio drops below 80 percent for one year or 85 percent for two consecutive years. The funding ratio would be measured on the market value basis every year. If the funding ratio does not meet the required level, the post-retirement increase would be 100 percent of CPI, with a 1 percent floor, and a 1.5 percent cap. Once the lower cap applies, no further triggers would exist.

The proposal preserves the opportunity for a post-retirement increase as high as 2.5 percent provided that the funded ratio exceeds the existing trigger.

Arbitrator rules Hennepin County must back pay $300,000 for ranking deputies

What? Hennepin County not bargain in good faith?

Hennepin County administrators withheld critical salary information during a contract arbitration with a group of ranking sheriff deputies, a move that will now cost the county more than $300,000, an arbitrator ruled.

A ruling released last week said Todd Olness, the county's labor relations representative, didn't disclose that a group of majors and the chief deputy in the Sheriff's Office received 7.5 percent raises. During contract negotiations with the office's 61 other supervisors, Olness stressed that the county's philosophy was to distribute uniform pay adjustments and benefits across all bargaining units, the ruling said.

FULL STORY Star Tribune

Spike in Assaults on Prison Guards

KSTP is reporting: 

10 Officers have been assaulted at Oak Park Heights since last Friday...and... there have been 22 assaults on prison guards in the first 3 months of 2018.

FULL STORY

Good Bye Jeff Weyek

Good bye long time Hennepin County Detention Deputy Jeff Weyek. Cecilia we all share the loss of a good man.

The Historic Hennepin County Jail

This is a great picture of the historic Hennepin County Jail. Source, Star Tribune. Photo by Glenn Stubbe.

Hard Times, one of my favorite internet pics

Arbitrator rules against Sheriff Stanek on tattoos

The ridiculous fight over Hennepin County Sheriff Office (HCSO) employees with tattoos goes back to 2013.

I wrote about it in a post on this blog called, Semper Fi? Don't Apply!

Long story short, there was a Detention Deputy walked out because 4 months into her employment after they noticed a small tattoo on her forearm. She had the choice of either removing it or being terminated. The HCSO stood on a District Court ruling from 1985 saying they had the right to make grooming policy. That fight was over mustaches on men and fingernails on women.

It's nice to see an Arbitrator nudge the HCSO into the 21st century!

Click below for full story:

Hennepin County deputies win round in fight over tattoos

New Pension Bill

A new Bill has been introduced in the Minnesota  House and Senate affecting our PERA Correctional Pension (HF3053 and SF2620).

Originally the recomendation was to lump our PERA Correctional Plan in with all of the rest and give us only an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) floor of 1% with a ceiling of 1.5% based on inflation. AFSCME called it "shared sacrifice." Teamsters and even LELS signed off on it. Willing to weaken the PERA Correctional Plan!

After Tom Perkins of MNPEA and myself met with PERA Executive Director Doug Anderson and the PERA Board, they recommended to the legislature that our PERA Correctional Plan have a floor of 1% with a ceiling of 2.5% based on inflation.

While I would prefer no change to our annual COLA of 2.5%, if change is going to come, at least we will maintain a COLA of 2.5% in times of inflation.

The new bills reflect that. Thank you Doug Anderson, PERA Board and legislatures.
Special thanks to Rep. Abigail Whelan for meeting with me early on and contacting the Bill's authors.

Common Sense Speech Control

I’ve come to the conclusion that unregulated free speech has led to much destruction and discord in our society. How many of our societal woes are caused by the transmission of high speed misinformation? So, I’d like to suggest some common sense speech control for our own safety.

We are all familiar with the concepts of free speech and freedom of the press as outlined in our over two centuries old First Amendment of the Constitution.

But let’s face it, our founding fathers never envisioned a time when just anyone could sit behind a keyboard and with the click of a button, send information, much of it inaccurate, across the world. This high speed, high capacity, communication did not exist two hundred years ago. It is dangerous.

Freedom of speech and the press were a lot different then.

If you wanted to be heard, you would have had to stand on a soap box in the town square and talk loudly.

If you had money, you could pay a printer to type set a flier or pamphlet. These were limited runs.

If you wanted to publish a book, you had to have an education, then find an editor and publisher willing to finance the endeavor. High capacity communication was difficult then, only for a few, and overseen by publishers and editors.

In order to make our society safer and bring it more in line with the idea of free speech as it was envisioned at our nation’s founding, I suggest the following common sense free speech rules.

1)      You must have a permit to post on the internet. It would require just a simple background check to make sure you are not a criminal or working as a foreign agent, especially Russian.

2)      You cannot have had any psychological or mental health issues. After all we can’t have unbalanced people spreading misinformation, delusions, fear and hate inflaming the masses.

3)      No High Capacity printing or posting allowed without a Federal Permit. High Capacity is defined as any publication or post over 1,250 words or 5 pages. No one needs to use that many words for basic communication. Lengthy publications/posts in the wrong hands can be destructive.

4)      Any posts published to more than one site must be sent to a government official to fact check before publishing.

5)      You must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma.

You are still free to stand on a soap box in a public area, as long as it’s in a designated free speech zone and talk as loudly as you want.

I think we can all agree that a few common sense regulations on our speech would make the world a lot safer. After all, we need some way to reduce all of these unregulated mass communications.

©Wade Laszlo 2018