GM 08.21.25

In attendance

OFFICERS:

Ryan Cates, Eric Hesse, Nick Weerts, Steaed Doehring, Antonino Guerrero, Cassy Rydell, Eric Manriquez, Cory Moon, Rick Pitts, Max Arroyo, Kyle Heinze, Joe Bluhm, Mike Hohenstein, Jamie Schwartz, Logan Smith

MEMBERS: William M., AJ, Patrick C., Sherry C., Andrew R.

Secretary Report

Steaed Doehring

Minutes from the previous General Membership meeting were made available for review. 

A motion to approve the minutes was made, seconded, and carried without objection.

Updates since the last meeting:

• Attended all scheduled Labor Management meetings and documented key discussion points for union follow-up.
• Maintained official union records, including minutes, officer reports, and correspondence.
• Collaborated with officers on agenda planning and constitutional updates.
• Published recent meeting minutes and event updates to the Local 404 website for membership access.
• Attended contract training and site visits.

treasurer report

Antonio Guerrero

Cash Balance Beginning of Month: $121855.15

Income for the Month: $9821.74

Expenses for the Month

• Officer Allowances/SEPC/Arb/Neg: $9816.62
• Reimbursed Expenses/Milage/Rally/Neg/CBHH: $2155.02
• Training: $383.89
• New Member Orientation: $237.80
• Labor Management Meetings: $692
• Donations/Good &Welfare: $404
• Retirements: $

Total Expenses: $13689.33

Amount in Checking Account End of Month: $117987.56

Audited by: Jennifer Mills and Cami Baune 7/30/25

Savings Account (Reserve Fund):

Maintained in accordance with AFSCME financial guidelines to support upcoming union expenses, reimbursements, and emergency needs. The Treasurer reviewed this balance during the meeting, and it is available upon request.

A motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report, subject to audit, was made, seconded, and carried without objection.

correspondence 

• AFSCME Council 5 Convention September 25-27. We have 27 members registered to be delegates.
• Charity Memorial Race, donation request.
• Thank You card from a member that is recovering from medical issues.

Comitee reports

• Banner - 

   

Officer Reports:

• President – Ryan Cates
• This past month I have…
• Attended and led Forensic meet and confer- Notes are attached to the meeting minutes
• Attended MSOP meet and confer
• Attended meet and confer for CBHH
• Chaired the Executive Board meeting
• Chaired the General Membership meeting
• Filed multiple grievances and sat investigations
• Attended New Employee Orientation at Rochester CBHH
• Talked with members in multiple work areas, answered their questions and listened to their concerns
• Presented and argued grievances

• Communicated information to E-Board members about issues facing the Local

        

• 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.

• Vice President – Administrative – Eric Hesse

• I have been on vacation this past month, but I was able to attend the Contract Training that the Local put on and the MSOP Labor Management meeting during this previous month.

   

• If you have any concerns or issues, please feel free to reach out to myself or any officer.

   

• In solidarity,

   

• Eric Hesse
• Vice President – Administrative
• AFSCME Local 404

• Vice President – Steward Coordinator – Nick Weerts

• I maintained a full schedule throughout August on the St Peter Campus. 

   

• I facilitated the August NEO class & subsequent seniority lot draws for new members. I attended the monthly MSOP Labor Management meeting & will be attending Rochester CBHH Labor Management on 8/28. I also attended our monthly E-board & General Membership meetings in person. 

   

• I continue to regularly visit the various work areas throughout MSOP & CPS. I also made it to the Forensic Nursing Home and the Warehouse for site visits and will continue to visit areas throughout our programs. We had 40 members attend our Contract Training at the end of July! Thanks to all who attended. I am currently working on getting a Steward training set up, so watch for that if it’s something you are interested in, in addition to future training opportunities.

   

• I sat a number of investigations the last month and have a couple more already scheduled for the coming week. I presented one Step 3 Grievance this month, with the determination still pending and authorized extensions to HR for responses to 9 other grievances by months end. I continue to keep busy fielding questions and concerns from members.

   

• I’m just waiting for my last shipment of PEOPLE hoodie sizes. Remember, these are not purchased by our Local but instead come from the Political Action Group- PEOPLE. I am just assisting in getting them to the donors they are meant for. You can manage your PEOLE membership (join/drop/increase/etc.) through Memberlink. 

   

• I continue to encourage Members to reach out with concerns/observations. Communication is key to all of our success! Please see www.union404.com for all meeting minutes. I would encourage all members to reach out for accurate answers & information when they are concerned about something.

   

• Nick Weerts
• Vice President Steward Coordinator
• 8.25.25

• Chief Steward – Service, Craft, Maintenance, Labor & Nursing Home – Kyle Heinze

• This past month I attended meet and confer, attended the general membership meeting, talked with management to address members concerns, answered several members questions, did multiple site visits, sat the ballot box, sat an investigation, filed and presented 3 step 1 grievances and filed and presented 2 step 2 grievances. If anyone has questions or concerns, please reach out.

   

• Won 1 step 1 grievance.

• Chief Steward – CBHH & Communications – Eric Manriquez

• Hello fellow members –

   

• This past month, I attended the MSOP Labor Management meeting, as well as attending the CBHH – Rochester NEO, and our E-Board and General Membership meetings. I was unable to attend the FMHP Labor Management due to having to attend the C5 E-Board meeting on the same day.

   

• Regular communications were sent throughout the month, some regarding the contract voting and new/updated contract language.

   

• There was one grievance filed from me this month, awaiting dates for follow-up, and I did not sit any investigations.

   

• I met with members for general questions and/or check-ins throughout the month. There were many questions regarding the contract TA and voting. I did my best to answer questions and/or redirect to the appropriate person who could best help.

   

• I will continue to reach out/check in with staff throughout the month as well as offer assistance when and where possible.

   

• As always, please feel free to reach out to myself or any other officer with any questions or concerns that you may have. We are more than happy to help when/where we can.

• Chief Steward – FMHP Overnights – Cory Moon
• Cory Moon (Noc’s Chief steward”) Unfortunately I have been out the entire month of August and will not be returning until at least Sept. 5th. With that being said, prior to leaving, I have been answering questions regarding the contract, Sat at the ballot box for contract voting, and filled out a couple cards for goodness and welfare. I will also be attending meet and confer today 8/21/25. 

• Chief Steward – Grove A – Cassy Rydell
• Attended our AFSCME Contract Training.
• Filed and presented multiple grievances at Step 1 and Step 2 as well as filed a Step 3 grievance: all pending responses at this time.
• Sat contract voting and helped answer member questions to the best of my ability.
• Met with supervisors and different management to address staff safety and security concerns.
• Attended August Safety Committee, Labor Management, E-Board and General Membership meetings.

• Chief Steward – FMHP – Rick Pitts
• For the month of august I will have attended meet and confer and spoke to 4 members about ongoing union related issues.

• Chief Steward – OTAs, SEPAs, WTAs, Clerical & Technical – Joe Bluhm

• The following is a list of things I did this past month as your Chief Steward:

   

• -Helped members through multiple investigations and took notes
• -Participated in New Employee Orientation
• -Went to MSOP Labor Management Meeting
• -Attended contract training
• -Attended a special E-Board meeting along with the monthly scheduled E-Board meeting
• -Attended Forensics’ Meet and Confer with Management
• -Met with members, heard their concerns, and did my best to find answers for them.
• -Handed out People’s Sweatshirts to members who contribute to the People’s organization aside from their monthly dues

• Chief Steward – LPNs – Max Arroyo
• This past month I have…
• Attended Forensic meet and confer-
• Attended MSOP meet and confer
• Attended CBHH Rochester NMO
• Attended the Executive Board meeting
• Attended the General Membership meeting
• Filed multiple grievances and sat investigations
• Presented and argued grievances

• Executive Board – Mike Hohenstein

• No report submitted.

   

• Executive Board – Jamie Schwartz
• Was happy to hear the amazing turn out for Contract Training last month! Thank you to the 41 members who attended the training. I was only able to attend MSOP Labor Management, E-Board and the General Membership meeting this month but answered a lot of questions for members who have reached out. I also called around and reminded members to vote on the contract. Please continue to cc me on all steps filed and any responses you receive.

• Executive Board – Logan Smith

• have spent the last month supporting the membership during the contract process by answering questions about the proposed contract, contacting AFSCME Council 5 on behalf of members, attending contract training to stay informed, and encouraging participation and engagement from the membership throughout the process.

   

  Thank you,

Logan Smith

• Council 5 Field Representative – Suzanne Kocurek 

  Report from Field Rep Suzanne Kocurek:

•     Master Team vote count on 8/19 with contract ratified. Team will be reviewing and finalizing redline. Cost of Living Increases typically happen in 2-3 months.

•     LPN Incentive Payments meeting with MMB held 8/20/25. Initial Information from employer and we are asking for further data. This is a class action that includes the multi-unit and unit 8 corrections for hiring incentives that were paid out or promised without MOU in place. MOU had expired 6/30/2023.

•     Mediation from May 2025 OT payments were to be on last paycheck for six cases that had awards.

•     Three arbitrations filed for LPN OT call outs.

•     Two new field reps at Council 5 SSP office, Gretchen Haupt from Science Museum and Chris Gullickson from Lino Lakes Corrections.

•     Previous field rep hired for Hermantown office, Kate Hoyt from MSOP Moose Lake

•     Contract Training held 7/24/25 with 43 attendees. Thanks to Joe for inviting attendees!

•     FR Scheduling steward training for Rochester/St. Peter with Nick W.

•     Convention workshops on Memberlink for delegates to register.

Old Business:

• Constitutional changes will be presented next month.
• Still working on opening another savings account.

Grievances Won:

• Step 1

Motions:

• Motion made to purchase 300 T-Shirts to replenish our supply, seconded, and carried.
• Motion made to spend up to 5,000 to purchase some more swag, seconded, and carried.
• Motion made to donate $404 to the memorial charity race, seconded, and carried.

New Business:

• Progressive Drawing $400 – Kathryn Lawrence – Not Present.
• The contract was ratified. It typically takes 2-3 months for the cost-of-living increase to be implemented. It will be paid retroactively from July 1st.
• FMHP – OT goes by seniority; we are not promoting OT for PT staff.
• FMHP Grove 5 – Safety Concerns/Problematic patient behaviors/Moving FT staff – were all discussed at labor management today.
• FMHP – Windows on Redwood are replaced.

Good and Welfare:

• 2 cards were sent to members who lost loved ones.

Stay informed—check the Local 404 Calendar for upcoming events, trainings, and meetings. Log in to Memberlink for bargaining updates, union news, and member resources.

Next meeting

09/18/25 Jake’s Stadium Pizza, Mankato, 4:30pm

Meeting adjourned at: 5:10pm