AFSCME LOCAL 2728

AFSCME Local 2728 Union Meeting Minutes

July 16^th, 2008

Meeting Called to order at the Centennial Fire Station at 4:00 PM.    

Officers Present: President Henderson, Secretary Score, Treasurer Pierre, and Business Agent Helseth

       Number of Members Present: 14 + the 4 scholarship recipients

Meeting Re-Convened at the Centennial Fire Station at 9:15 PM.       

Officers Present: Vice-president Bunnell

       Number of Members Present: 1

Meeting Re-Convened at the Centennial Fire Station at 10:50 PM.     

Officers Present: Vice-president Bunnell

       Number of Members Present: 5

The following is a consolidation of the items from the July 2008 meetings:

@ Corrections to the Last Union Meeting Minutes:

Business Agent Helseth was listed as Business Agent Hesse. 

ž Last Month’s Minutes:

A motion was made and seconded to forego the reading of last month's minutes. The motion passed and the minutes were not read.

, Correspondence:

Officer Jessica Johnson is busy mobilizing union members in Kentucky and here is her correspondence: "I am having a blast!  Working all kinds of crazy ours but still finding time to socialize when and where I can.  I have met some really great people with big hearts and a drive to make things better.

Hope all is well with you and everyone else back home, tell everyone I said HI!"

She also sent a correspondence from Rob Armour, a fellow union organizer in Kentucky and Michigan-

What Has My Union Done for Me?

Last month while I was in bldg 50, someone asked me why I was organizing for AFSCME. Additionally they went on to say that they thought it was bad timing to be away while we worked short.  I got a good laugh out of that one.  We all know that if I was on shift and a dozen C.O.'s came with, we wouldn't' stop working short. No officer caused the current staff shortage.  Your sick time use doesn't cause it. Your vacation doesn't cause it. Contract negotiations do not cause it and neither does organizing.

Looking at the real question WHY DO WE ORGANIZE? I can say that AFSCME and its members including myself organize so that all of us can keep the level of wages and benefits that we currently enjoy.  Right now as you read this, union members are in contract negotiations. When the state goes to contract negotiations, they always start by canvassing the surrounding states to see what other officers make in wages and benefits.  How much does an officer make in any state within a day's car ride from us?  Well, the truth is there is no CO in any state bordering Illinois making more money than you.  There is no CO within a day's car ride from here that has more benefits than you.

There are two ways to solve this disparity.  We can all agree to take a pay cut, pay more for our health insurance, and work longer to retirement, or we can work our butts off to bring the surrounding states up to our level. High water raises all boats.  I know which one I am going to do.  When you ask what has your union has done for you lately, the answer is that they are working to ensure you can keep the wages and benefits you enjoy today.  AFSCME is thinking three chess moves ahead. They know they need to organize and get these states on board so that everyone is negotiating similar contracts.  I wrote earlier that a CO in Kentucky makes 750 dollars every two weeks.  When that gets averaged in with what you make, it really brings down your pay.  Take 1500, add 750, and divide by two. Are you willing to work for that? If not, start thinking how you can help to bring their pay in line with yours.  Stop worrying about if you get a half-day or not. Start worrying that you may have to work longer, pay more, and get paid less. There is a much bigger picture, and YOU NEED TO SEE IT!!  The state will take your pay and benefits at their first opportunity.

Now Hot Rod wants to close Pontiac. How long before he is looking at Dixon?  Right now, there is a big bright target stapled to your pay and benefits package. AFSCME is working so you can continue to keep it.  Your union is working for all of you.  That is what organizing is all about.  We can not afford to sit still and think we are always going to be safe.  We can all agree the Department has changed for the worse in recent years. We need to keep what we have!!!!!!!!   It's not guaranteed.  Don't be angry with the local, the president, the e-board, the Council, or the union in general, because they are working hard every day so you can keep your pay and benefits. What sense does being mad at them make?   Get mad at the right people! You need to get involved, help yourself, and help your brothers & sisters. 

 In Solidarity,

Rob Armour

$$$  Treasurer’s Report:

Read and approved as submitted

Submitted by Treasurer Denise Pierre

Work: (651)717-6183           

Work Hours: 6:30 AM-3:00 PM

E-mail: dpierre@LL.doc.state.mn.us

O President’s Report:

* Sat in on two investigations

* Presented one employee performance evaluation appeal

* Sat in on two meet & confers with Central office over STS lay-offs

* Went to Moose Lakes Union meetings to discuss the shift exchange issue.

* Sid and I had a meeting with Assistant Commissioner Dave Crist and Captain Mark Wilmes on the shift exchange issue.

* Started a work action across the entire State against the employer over the shift exchange issue.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact:

Tim Henderson

President

Work: (651)717-6100

Cell Phone: (612)669-9035

Work Hours: 6:30 AM-3:00 PM (Weekdays)

E-mail Work: thenders@LL.doc.state.mn.us

þ Vice President’s Report:

Sat in on several investigations.

Working with the Executive Board to work on the trade issue work action.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact:

Darby Bunnell

Vice-President/Chief Steward

Work: (651)717-6100 Extension 405

Cell Phone: (612)978-1645

E-Mail Work: dbunnell@LL.doc.state.mn.us

E-Mail Home: DNBUNNELL1@MSN.com

& Business Agent’s Report:

Diplomacy has failed with the Central Office with respect to the shift exchange issue. Tim and I met with Moose Lake and Faribault last week to hear their issues and answer questions. We have had talks with Central Office and offered a very good solution to this issue.  I met with St. Cloud on Monday and Stillwater on Tuesday.

Central Office wouldn't accept a very well thought out compromise which would benefit the majority of Officers and provide sanctity to Article 5 Section D. Shift Exchanges.

Moose Lake has started a work action and we are now requesting all locals to participate in this initiative.

Please ask all Officers to take a leave of absence from their volunteer duties such as F.T.O., instructors, sort, etc.... until Labor/Management can come to a sensible agreement to this important issue. More info to follow

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact:

Sid Helseth

Business Agent-Council 5

Sid.Helseth@afscmemn.org

 Work: (651)287-0529

 4 Committee Reports:

None

 J Old Business:

Counted the votes for the remaining E-board spot.  The newest Executive Board meber is Doug Bryan. 

 $ New Business:

Presented four $500 scholarships to the four students that had the best essays (members's sons and daughters) and will be pursuing higher education after high school:  Sara Damiani, Meghan Oehrlein, Scott Damiani, and Ashley Henderson.  We had subs, chips, pop, and cake at 4:00 PM meeting to celebrate the four scholarship winners on their achievement

Call for delegates for the fall AFSCME  Council 5 Convention in Bloomington on September 25, 26, and 27 2008.  We can send 22 delegates so members that are interested in attending should e-mail Amy Score.  There will be a lot of voting into the late evening and President Henderson is requiring all delegates to stay for all the voting and the delegates will be proveided a hotel room to share with another delegate.

Negotiations are coming up, contract proposal forms should be out in late July. The call for delegates will be probably next month with the delegates meeting in November.

^ Discussion:

Lots of discussion about the shift exchange work

P Good and Welfare:

Dennis Z. - grandfather passed away

Dave A. - retired

Joe P. - medical

Steve H.l - medical

Mark C. - new baby

Randy Ronquist - FRB officer died

Meetings adjourned at 11:30 at the Centennial Fire Station on 7/16/08

Minutes Submitted by Amy Score ascore@LL.doc.state.mn.us

Secretary - AFSCME Local 2728

Work: (651)717-6100

Work Hours: 2:40 PM-10:40 PM

The Next Union Meetings will be on the following date and times:

CHANGE IN MEETING TIMES AND PLACE