President's Report, July 2003:

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I know many members out there have been just dying for a union newsletter. The plain facts are, that there has not been much to report on. If you have not heard by now, 22 Probation Officers took the County’s early incentive offer. County-wide, the total number of employees was about 380. It is my understanding that this will soften any possible lay-offs significantly. As you may recall, early this year, our department was reporting that in order to come into compliance with its budget restrictions, 43.5 FTEs would have to be eliminated. This number was later reduced to 25, but then the 2004 picture started to become clear that $8.7 million needed to be cut from the DOCC budget. 2004 will see an additional $72 million cut from Hennepin County’s overall budget on top of the $25 million that needed to be cut for this year. It is my understanding that this will mean an additional 600 FTEs will need to be eliminated.

The question I am asked most often is “How many probation officers are going to be laid off?” I really do believe that our administration is working to minimize any lay-offs. After sitting in meetings with them and saying over and over and over again, that if you want people who are eligible to retire, offer them an incentive. They want help with health insurance is what I told them. Then, low and behold, there was this incentive program, the $10,000 health care component was paid for by calculating how much unemployment they’d have to pay to the people they would have to lay-off. I don’t expect the County to be giving the unions credit for this, but if members were not staying active and sending me ideas such as this, I don’t think they would have come up with such a wonderful idea! Again, I can’t say how many could be laid off, but I can say that 22 won’t be!

When openings occur in our department and divisions, we are used to seeing those openings posted and members are given the opportunity to apply for transfer to those positions. What is happening now is that as positions are eliminated, Administration has the authority to take the person who has had their position eliminated, and place them in a vacant position. This recently happened in ISR where a position was eliminated and that person was put into a vacant position in traditional parole. This is not a violation of our contract as when one position is eliminated, they are able to move that person into a vacant position. Now if there is a situation where they move someone into a position and they fill the position that person came from, then that is a violation of our contract because the opening should have been posted. If you are aware of the later happening, please contact a steward so that we can initiate a grievance.

As we say goodbye to our 22 colleagues who are leaving us not to be replaced and we see our workloads increase, please keep in mind that due to a 1991 Federal Court decision that was implemented here in 2001, we are no longer exempt employees and are entitled to overtime for all time worked over 40 hours in a 7-day work week. I know that we all love our jobs, and we all do not want to compromise the safety of the people who live in the communities we serve, but we are entitled to be properly compensated for the work we do. With the prospects of receiving additional compensation from contract negotiations minimal, we have to make sure that we are all properly compensated for the work we do. That means if you had to put in 40 hours by noon Thursday, you need to advise your supervisor that at 12:01 PM your are earning time and one half, or you need to go home until Monday! By getting little or no cost of living increase, and paying more for our health care, I think that we have fulfilled Governor Pawlenty’s directive that we tighten our belts to help our state get through its current budget crisis, we don’t have to work for free.

I have been told by our county administration that on or about July 1, 2003, they will be installing new software on our networks and servers to detect illegal use of county computers. My understanding is that any employee who continues to use his or her county computer or e-mail to pursue a private business enterprise, or to view and distribute obscene material could be disciplined, terminated and prosecuted. As I said earlier, they need to reduce 600 FTEs in 2004. Don’t be one of them by using a county computer, or the county’s e-mail for a private business or anything that is not related to your job here at the county. THEY ARE SERIOUS!!!!

Take Back Minnesota is an initiative by AFSCME members aimed at getting AFSCME members to know who the other AFSCME members are in your own legislative districts. Take Back Minnesota is not about the DFL party, it is not about abortion, it is not about light rail, it is about making sure your legislators, the legislators who represent you, where you live, are held accountable to you and the other AFSCME members who live in your legislative district. It is about making sure you get paid what you deserve and making sure you have what you need to do your job correctly.

In addition to maintaining our collective barraging rights, Take Back Minnesota participation by AFSCME Local 552 members kept a proposal to eliminate presentence investigations from becoming law. It kept EJJ as a sentencing option for juveniles, and in the future it will help us keep our jobs from being blended into some kind of generic social service worker position. But in order for Take Back Minnesota to work, we need you to sign up to participate. You can choose how much or how little you want to participate. We have members in 2/3 of all the legislative districts in Minnesota, we can speak in a loud clear voice with the other 50,000 AFSCME members in this state for all of our needs if you will take the time, which can be as little as 15 minutes per month, to participate. You can sign up by logging on to our web site at www.afscme552.org and clicking on the “Take Back Minnesota” icon.

We have prepared a proposal to start contract negotiations in August. Representing our local at the bargaining table this year are: Patrick Guernsey, Rick Lindberg, Cate Wagner, Rhonda Bode, and Will McDonald. Please take the time to thank these members for taking a lot of their own personal time to negotiate your next contract with Hennepin County.

The passage of the Minnesota Personal Protection Act will likely increase the number of handguns on the streets here in Minnesota somewhere between 50,000 to 90,000. We have many members who are out on those same streets every day. It is no secret that the long term and maybe even the short term plan is to put more probation and parole officers out in those same communities. You don’t have to like the idea, but I think it is time that we as a union come together to support our coworkers who feel they need to be licensed and armed to perform their job duties. Like it or not, this is something that is coming, and we should think about getting on the bus and steering the police rather than sitting by and getting run over by it.

Using the same argument that the many need to stick up for the few, I also think it is time for our local to come together behind our gay and lesbian members and start to push for domestic partner benefits. Just as we should come together for those who have a legitimate need for firearms, lets make sure that our gay and lesbian colleagues and their families are treated equally.

Amendments to our Local’s Constitution were introduced at the June membership meeting. They were laid over until July which means that they cannot be approved by the membership until August. The primary focus of these amendments is to have some accountability for union officers. The stipend paid to union officers annually is the largest budget item our local has. The members have a right to expect that officers receiving this stipend have been attending training and performing the work of the local. I hope you will support these amendments.

Our July union meeting will be held in the evening to accommodate members who cannot attend a meeting during the noon hour. We will be meeting on July 17th at 5:30 PM at the Robbinsdale Court House. Please understand that all union meetings are on your own time. You cannot be on the county’s time when a meeting is during the day.

Looking for a fun activity to bring your kids, grand kids, nieces or nephews to this summer? Attend the AFSCME Council 14 picnic on August 24th!
The Annual Council 14 picnic will be held on Sunday, August 24, from Noon to 4:30 p.m., at the Highland Park Pavilion in St. Paul.
As always, hot dogs, potato salad, pop and beer will be provided, along with games for the kids and LOTS of door prizes. Those who wish to can bring a dish or dessert to pass, but it’s not required.