General Membership Meeting-AFSCME 404
April 16, 2020
400PM Video Conference
Present:
Adam Castle, Ryan Cates, Hans Paulson, Steve Wilking, Shannon Timm, Judy, Annie Jukacki, Nick Weertz, Stacey Mueller, Jake Schoenecker
1.Secretary Report:
*During the corona shutdown, the union is unable to vote or make motions*
2. Treasurer-Antonino Guerrero:
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR MONTH ENDING: March 2020
CASH BALANCE BEGINNING OF MONTH: $ 72826.40
INCOME FOR THE MONTH: $ 3.19
EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH: $ 1746.28
CASH BALANCE ENDING OF MONTH: $ 71083.31
SAVINGS: $ 80164.87
*Income was not deposited until April. Next month’s report will include all of the updated/current amounts.
SUBMITTED BY: Antonino Guerrero
3. Correspondence: MSOP Meeting Minutes: https://www.union404.com/news/april-9th-2020-msop-meet-and-confer
Forensics Meeting Minutes: https://www.union404.com/news/april-2020-forensics-meet-and-confer
4. New Business: Covid rumor is that covid covid leave covers only 2/3 of pay but most cases is 100 percent. If you or family have covid or care for a child uder 12, it is 100 percent. The only time it is 2/3 covered is if you have a child over 12 and under 18 and/or you have to care for someone who is not immediate family
If someone has a child over 12 with a disability that cannot take care of themselves, that is a full Covid Pay. Accruals will not change from what it is now. People not working on Covid leave, you are not accruing leave. Gresychk has mentioned that if staffing gets bad enough, they will be calling people back on covid leave. We are looking into how they would do this. Daycare and high risk will not change. DHS says they will do this if they need to.
Last week, management finally got sanitizer for staff. Still short on blue gloves. They handed out masks to management and staff. You will have one mask only. Rumor is that surgical masks are good for a week.
Getmankatoppe has made masks that anyone can go and get masks. Visit the website
5. Old Business: February we brought forward constitutional changes. We cannot vote during these meetings over the internet. We will hold off on the changes until we can meet in person.
6. Items from the membership: Unsure if new staff in Rochester are getting paperwork. Some places aren’t allowing the union time to talk to new staff. In St. Peter they are getting time. If you know some people aren’t getting union time, direct them to memberlink to sign a card online or to eboard members. If anyone gets cards signed, take a picture and send it to Annie.
7. Good and Welfare: We have a check for one retiree. We had a member pass away last week. Moment of silence observed. We would like to contact a family member to get more information.
8. Officer Reports:
President: Ryan Cates- This past month I have…
Attended Forensic Meet and Confer via teleconference-
-We asked for an update on permissions to use the atlas app- Nothing new.
-We requested an increase to the minimum on Oak unit- Management refused.
-Again asked for a cell phone in scheduling so staff who use Sprint can always call back and accept overtime- Management said there is a cell phone and we asked for the number to be put out to staff.
-Inquired about the progress on getting Union bulletin boards hung in vocational and FNH- Management is working on it.
-Asked for hazard pay for our members working during the covid crisis- Management said it is not up to them.
-Presented numerous problems with the screening tent- Management does not care about Labor’s opinions about this.
-We asked if they are planning on moving UP positions to units- Yes they are.
-Asked why UP are being given random shifts outside of contract- Management says this issue should have been fixed and to let them know if it happens again.
-Asked about LPN’s being removed from groves they are currently in- Management is looking at this to staff Forest View but they are providing us no details.
-Why are texts being sent to offer OT- Management said this should not happen.
-Presented multiple structural problems with the new units- Management does not care what Labor thinks. They will not change lights in the nursing stations and will not remove the dangerous padalocks from the patient lockers.
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Attended Weekly covid-19 updates- We continuously ask for more hand sanitizer, gloves, and PPE for our membership. Request hazard pay for our members at every meeting. Some progress has been made with sanitizer and gloves as well as masks for staff. Management refuses to support hazard pay for employees working during this pandemic.
Attended MSOP Meet and Confer via teleconference.
Filed multiple grievances and sat investigations.
Talked with members in multiple work areas and listened to their concerns.
Presented and argued grievances.
Discussed the situation with OSHA and the citation that FMHP received with members and officers in Local 404.
Became even more frustrated with management.
Communicated information to E-Board members about issues facing the Local.
Chaired the Executive Board Meeting
Chaired the General Membership Meeting.
Attended meetings with management about the OSHA citation. We are pushing for changes in FMHP that will improve staff safety.
Management is only providing N95 masks to nursing and a few other staff. During CPR chest compressions the coronavirus will be expelled into the air and infect people nearby who do not have proper protective equipment including N95 masks. We are asking all our members who do not have N95 masks to not perform CPR. Instead initiate an ICS and wait for nursing, who should have an N95 mask, and then leave the area.
If any member of Local 404 feels they are not being represented by our Union, please let me know. We cannot fix problems if we do not know there is a problem.
We ask that all members who are interviewed as non-subjects in an investigation, request Union representation. If management refuses, then members should refuse to answer questions. Participation in investigations is completely voluntary and they cannot coerce you to answer their questions. We need to do this to compel management to discontinue their practice of refusing to allow Union representatives into investigations
VP: Steve Wilking- Greetings Everyone!
What I’ve done this past month
With the Covid-19 Pandemic our officer duties have changed a bit. Initially our meetings have been cancelled. We recently had our MSOP and Forensics Meet and confer. Chief Union Steward Marvin Sullivan has been filling if for me on the weekly check-ins as I’ve been out with the Rona-Vid leave. He will continue to sit that meeting in my absence for the remainder of this Pandemic. I continue to take many calls/emails. I have even met with some of you in person. I continue to do some behind the scenes work. Considering I’m the Steward Coordinator I continue to direct and enhance our statistics for grievances. Please see Jamie Sheppard’s report.
Communication
FMHP
With the Pandemic putting a damper on my things. I’d just like to continue to communicate the follow. We still have (1) MNOSHA citation out there for Forensics. We have (1) MNOSHA complaint still being investigated. We are also continuing to work with Legislators and Management to get the required PPE need for ALL workers when needed. The sanitizer has been refilled and surgical masks are being offered to staff.
MSOP
I was informed that management continues to send 1 staff to the hospital. By sending 1 staff this opens up staff for investigations nor does it allow people to take their breaks. This is a violation of FLSA as well as state law. Please continue to communicate with Union leadership with the date and time this is occurring. Just a specific note…. MSOP has had their shift switch from 8.5 hrs. To 8.0 hrs. Please let your Union Leadership know if you would like to keep the 8 hr. shifts as this is something we can fight for.
Contract
ARTICLE 3 Union Security
This also is an important part of the contract….. For the purpose of educating Article per Article…. I will elect to skip this section.
ARTICLE 4 Seniority (pg. 2)
We can learn a lot from this section. Section 1 A. State seniority. If an employee leaves state service and gets rehired. Their Seniority will start over regarding this section. Section 1 B is how your seniority can be used.
Section 1. Definitions.
- State Seniority. "State Seniority" is defined as the length of employment with the State of Minnesota since the last date of hire.
- Classification Seniority
Bumping, Demotions, Transfers. Classification Seniority in a class to which an employee bumps, demotes or transfers shall include Classification Seniority in all higher or equal related classes in positions represented by the Union or in confidential positions. The employee may use such related class Classification Seniority to exercise a bump, transfer or demotion in lieu of layoff.
Section 3. Seniority Rosters. No later than November 30 and May 31 of each year Appointing Authorities shall prepare and post on all employee bulletin boards seniority rosters for each seniority unit and one (1) copy shall be furnished to the Local Union. The rosters shall list each employee in the order of Classification Seniority (State Seniority for Units 4 and 6) and reflect each employee's date of Classification Seniority, date of State Seniority, and the date of Classification Seniority and class title for all classes in which the employee previously served. [Note: Classification Seniority dates need not be listed for classes in Units 4 and 6.]
In addition, the Appointing Authority shall list the class options (if any) for which an employee is qualified. If an employee disagrees with the class options listed, the employee shall have thirty (30) calendar days from the date of the posting of the seniority roster to notify Minnesota Management & Budget (MMB). MMB shall determine whether the employee meets the minimum qualifications for the class option.
The rosters shall also identify the type of appointment if other than full-time unlimited.
When two (2) or more employees have the same Classification Seniority dates, seniority position shall be determined by State Seniority. Should a tie still exist, seniority shall be determined by length of prior State service. Should a tie still exist, seniority shall be determined by lot.
The rosters shall also include a listing of all employees in Student Worker classifications.
FYI There is sections of this Article that I have chosen not to put in here. All is important but these are the highlights that are relative to us on a regular basis.
Rumors
Information Center
How to file an OSHA Complaint (Link Below)
https://www.osha.gov/workers/file_complaint.html
What is OSHA RECORDABLE?
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1904/1904.7
Union Recourses
In Solidarity,
Steve Wilking
Vice President - Steward Coordinator
AFSCME Local 404
VP: Eric Hesse- We have been working hard on trying to advocate for what is best for the safety and health of our membership, which includes demanding that proper PPE be given to our staff, fighting for hazard pay for all that have to report to work and cannot work from home, and dealing with issues with COVID Leave. For PPE, Administration is saying that they are following the CDC guidelines by providing us with the best available equipment they can get us. We continue to strive for better equipment that will keep us safe, such as the proper gloves and masks, especially those that are working with suspected or confirmed COVID cases, but understanding of the nationwide shortages of PPE as well. For hazard pay, this is becoming more and more less likely to happen. They cannot approve hazard pay locally. That decision is made by Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB). From all we’ve been hearing from Human Resources, Council 5, and state legislators, it will be tough to get this passed through either MMB or legislature due to the projected budget deficit that is to come due to COVID. We will continue to advocate for this though. With COVID Leave, if you are having any issues with this, please let us know and we will try our best to get the issue resolved.
In MSOP, we’ve been trying to problem shoot the best practices for the newly formed Quarantine/Isolation unit for those that are suspected or confirmed to have COVID to keep those that are working there safe and healthy while working in this environment. We’ve also been dealing with health Services’ issues with scheduling.
We’ve been having weekly teleconferences with the administration of both Forensics and MSOP and HR, along with all other labor partners. We are trying to establish this as well at CBHH and CARE.
We are living in uncertain times where things change at the drop of a hat it seems and things are ever evolving. We will try to keep on top of everything and best communicate it to the membership, but if you have any questions, issues, or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of us. We will all get through this by working together.
In solidarity,
Eric Hesse
Executive Board: Jake Schoenecker- I have been sitting investigations, attending meetings and supporting members when questions arise
Executive Board: Alex Flores-Working on agenda items for CBHH Rochester and CARE St. Peter. Haven’t heard back from the two locations’ membership. Present step 3 grievance at CARE today via phone.
Executive Board: Chief Steward Emilio Florez- I don’t have much to report for the meetings this month as I was unable to attend. I have been working extensively on processes pertaining to many different subjects and situations. The main one I was recently focusing on was investigations and interviews, the last completed was a simple OSHA packet for processes. Most of my work has slowed due to the current events, however; we are rapidly adjusting and normalizing ourselves in order to continue to do our work. I have future plans to restructure and organize my position in order to provide a better quality service. This will entail the use of a system and concepts similar to Six Sigma and black belt mastery set of techniques and tools, in order to improve processes redesigned for a Union setting and labor side workplace environment . I had anticipated it to be a 2 year task but that has now obviously changed due to the recent threat of COVID 19 it may be a longer process so the changes will be subtle.
We have been getting many emails regarding issues and concerns in the workplace. We are working together as we are all in this. Please continue to check in with Union officers. We gather many great ideas and suggestions from the membership so keep them coming.
Please utilize your resources available if there is a need. Union404.com, AODS, fell free to email or call me as well, Skype etc.
Thank you all for your hard work and support,
Emilio Florez III
AFSCME Chief Steward
LOCAL 404
(507) 985-2121
Executive Board: Chief Steward Nick Weerts- It’s been a busy couple of months here in MSOP. I have attended MSOP Labor Management Meetings as well as other meetings regarding COVID-19 & the setting up of the MSOP Infirmary Unit. I also attended a joint meeting with MNA regarding concerns with Health Services scheduling practices. It was a productive meeting & we plan to meet again to monitor progress. I’ve had a lot of collaboration with MNA reps & Nursing Staff, in getting Health Services transitioning to Atlas Scheduling as well as more uniformed guidelines for vacation/overtime/inversing/etc. There’s definitely been good progress, but still work to be done in the coming weeks. A meeting with CPS leadership rolled back some of the overreach that had staff concerned, with planned future follow-ups on my agenda. Continuing to field questions/concerns regarding COVID leave and other work place issues…. Still striving for good communication & transparency. Please see www.union404.com for all meeting minutes.
Executive Board: Chief Steward Marvin Sullivan-This past month I have been spending a lot of time fielding questions in regards to COVID LEAVE. I have also been continuing to look into Radio Standards issues along with VP Wilking. I have been attending a weekly meeting in regards to COVID19 and try to be a good representative of our member issues at this. I will continue to attend this meeting until this is resolved. I have also been fielding questions in regards to OT Distribution and hoping to have these issues resolved.
In Solidarity,
Marvin Sullivan
Executive Board: Jamie Sheppard-
CS Facility Support: Stacey Mueller-I am out of COVID Leave right now but still able to answer questions via facebook messanger.
Chief Steward MSH / CRP / Nursing Nights: Kurt Crosby
Annie Jukacki-There have been a lot of questions on hazard pay. MMB is not responding. The answer is most likely “no” because it will be a lot of money. Their primary concern is to keep people safe and keep people working. AFSCME is focusing on safety also. As soon as we know more about hazard pay, we will keep you updated. The governor and his staff took a pay cut recently. Legislators said they would support it but right now it is not a priority. There are a lot of people out of work right now.
Adjourned at 440PM