Present:
Bonnie Wold, Melissa DuChene, Tim Lokensgard, Troy Sherwood, Cindy Jungers, Scott Grefe, Tim Headlee, Chuck Hottinger, Molly Kennedy, Matt Stenger, Amanda Mathiowetz
10:00 a.m. AFSCME AGENDA ITEMS
1. Ability to see who signed up for overtime (advance and subsequent)
• The reason we are unable to see this right now is because that would give everyone full permissions. This would allow people to make changes to the list of Security Counselor’s signed up for OT.
• A lot of members have asked for this. Right now if a SC believes OT was handed out incorrectly, the steward gets the list from JR. Is there a way to simplify this process? Management stated that they can take a snippet of the list that everyone can access through the scheduler site.
2. Ability to see all of AFSCME's schedules
• The reason we do not have this access is because that would give administration status and that gives the ability to make changes to the schedule.
• There is a new schedule system coming. Please see #6 below under Management.
3. Bid awards and effective dates
• There are numerous dates on the bid award letter. Bonnie Wold sent a copy of a letter to Cindy Jungers. The date the position was accepted is the start of the 6 month bid ban.
4. Filling vacated positions
• 1768’s are in. Not all positions have been posted. The goal is to have any internal movement in before it is approved to hire off of the street again. There is no interest in stopping movement.
5. Interest bids on dead positions (across programs)
6. GPS bracelets
• The minimal training received by very few people is concerning. There are only about 6 people trained on the GPS bracelets. The reason for this is because the vendor only gives a limited amount of permissions because this is accessible from home and changes could be made.
• AFSCME received an email giving details on the concerns out there with this system. The name on the email will be blacked out and sent to Troy Sherwood who will address these concerns.
7. Oxygen on trips
• In the past a nurse has accompanied trips when there is a client who has an oxygen tank. This was recently changed to where there is not a nurse with. Members are very concerned about this because oxygen is considered a drug and they are not trained on this. Troy Sherwood stated that he met with Michelle Bremer on this. Nursing will make the decision if the client will be accompanied by a nurse or not. The reason for this is because clients who use an oxygen tank use it for assistance. They do not rely on it to breathe. Every case will be looked at individually.
8. Discrepancy on rounds of bidding
• Jamie Sheppard has been tracking this for AFSCME and there have been several discrepancies with Central Office on rounds of bids. Tim Lokensgard stated that he has called Central Office about this to make sure that they are tracking the rounds. Central Office stated that they would do an internal audit. Tim or JR will be the point person for this.
9. Rotating 4 – 10 hour shifts
• Recently AFSCME received a schedule proposal from a member on 1st Watch. This member did a lot of research and tracking over a 5 month span to see at what times we are running short. The member developed a rotating 4 – 10 hour shift schedule. This would affect members on 2nd and 3rd watch as well because shifts would need to overlap. It would be approximately 12-13 SC’s on each shift. Management received the template and stated that it would need further discussion. Tim Lokensgard stated that one thing that does stand out right away is that there is a 50 hour work week. 80 hour pay period total but 2 out of every 3 weeks are 50 hours.
10. Lead Meetings
• There has been concern over the environment of Lead Meetings. These meetings are intended for opinions to be heard and for an open discussion. For some time these opinions have been shot down or ridiculed. There has been a lot of disrespect shown. AFSCME asked that this be addressed.
9:30 a.m.
MANAGEMENT AGENDA ITEMS
1. Cost savings committee
• Management stated that they believe it is time to resurrect this committee. There will be a representative from AFSCME (Matt Stenger), Central Office, St. Peter, and Moose Lake. So far there has been one meeting. The notes will be posted on the Share Site.
2. Request for 6-2 rotation
• This request came from a Lead on the east side of the Shantz building. Currently the west side SCL’s are on a 6-2 rotation. Management stated that they are considering honoring this request.
• AFSCME mentioned that this should diminish bidding rights due to this staff having an established 5-2 schedule right now. Because of this request word has spread and AFSCME has received a few emails from members who are on 5-2 schedules wanting to switch to a 6-2. AFSCME’s stance on this is that because there are 4 6-2 Lead positions, this should be something staff bid on when it opens up. If given to one individual it will get messy.
3. Employee of the week
• The Executive Team bought a parking spot for 3 months to give to the Employee of the Week. They would like to do this year round. The whole group put in names for the rest of the year and then drew from a hat.
4. Employee ID badges
• DCT will be re doing all name badges. They have decided to keep last names on badges but will be changing some of the colors. Management stated they are not sure on the reason for keeping both names. AFSCME stated that this is a bigger deal for CBHH/CARE’s due to their clientele getting out into the community quickly.
• MSOP will be staying the same blue. MSH may be changing from brown to yellow.
5. Extended care unit
• Due to the number of clients in Pexton it is difficult to move clients when incompatibilities come up. For the past 5-6 months these clients have had to move to Shantz which is not ideal.
• Health Services needs an Infirmary Room. This would allow nursing to observe clients the night before an operation or will be utilized as a temporary stay if clinical isn’t in (i.e. over the weekend). This will be circumstantial. The OD has the ability to decide what property the client can take.
• This will be the least restrictive option. The room will be unlocked. There will be a hospital bed and a cable box if the client wants to move their television. The room will not be monitored by cameras.
• The unit will be on P2S and will be the room formally used as HAS. This is considered a unit for licensing purposes. It will not impact staffing.
6. Scheduling Software
• Emerald City is the vendor that was chosen for the new software. Negotiations are complete and the contract will be signed around the end of March. MSOP bought an X amount of licenses so they are talking to the Forensics program about them possibly buying a portion. This will be DCT wide at some point.
• July 1st is the target date. In the meantime it will be developmental testing.
• Employees will be able to access the schedule, approve mutuals, and request vacation from home. This software will be a one stop shop. The vacation calendar will be attached and OT sign up. The OD will be able to look at the OT sign up and everyone will be in order of seniority. The OD will click on the first name and the software will send a text to that employee stating that they have so long to call the OD to accept the OT. Tim Lokensgard is taking the lead on this project.
7. ETL
• There has been a lot of unauthorized leave lately. Employees are expected to manage their time. ETL has been looked at individually and some has been approved. If you know you are out of time or coming close, please speak to your supervisor or Human Resources to let them know that you are watching your time. HR has worked with individuals before who do not have FMLA.
• AFSCME mentioned that on a couple of occasions the employee has been told that they can only go back 48 hours when FMLA is concerned. That is nowhere in the law like it was implied. AFSCME would like this cleared up. If this arises again please let Cindy Jungers know.
• After receiving FMLA paperwork from the employer, a few staff have been told that they have 30 days to fill the paperwork out. This is not true. Again, if this happens please let Cindy Jungers know.