General Membership Meeting-AFSCME 404
May 16th 2019
430PM Jakes Pizza Mankato
Present:
Adam Castle, Emilio Florez, Ryan Cates, Kurt Crosby, Crystal Kreklow, Antonino Guerrero, Jamie Sheppard, Jake Schoenecker, Matt Stenger, Stacy Mueller, Eric Hesse, Steve Wilking
1.Secretary Report:
Motion to approve March meeting minutes by Adam Castle, 2nd by Kurt Crosby. Motion passes
2. Treasurer-Antonino Guerrero:
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR MONTH ENDING: April 2019
CASH BALANCE BEGINNING OF MONTH: $ 61286.44
INCOME FOR THE MONTH: $ 7618.85
EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH: $ 7835.48
CASH BALANCE ENDING OF MONTH: $ 61069.81
SAVINGS: $ 79987.99
SUBMITTED BY: Antonino Guerrero
Motion to approve Treasurer Report subject to audit by Stenger. 2nd by Wilking. Motion passes
3. Correspondence: Memberlink for direct dues
MSH Meeting Minutes: https://www.union404.com/news/may-2019-msh-meeting-minutes
MSOP Meeting Minutes: https://www.union404.com/news/may-2019-msop-meeting-minutes
4. New Business: The local had no other interest in the 1 year trustee. Jake Dougherty put his name in and will now assume the position.
The local needs to purchase more checks. Motion by Emilio. 2nd by Stacy. Motion Passes
123 arbitrations throughout council 5 are still in limbo. The state is not actively participating. Unfair labor practice lawsuit has been filed against the state of Minnesota. Since the lawsuit has been filed, they have been more active.
Financial responsibility training on June 13th. Motion for mileage and perdiem by Cates. 2nd by Emilio. Motion passes. Antonino is interested in going.
Motion by Stenger to purchase business cards that have stewards and employee rights. Up to 200 dollars. 2nd by Emilio. Motion passes.
5. Old Business:
6. Items from the membership:
7. Good and Welfare: Mary Wolfe Retired. Wednesday the 29th of May from 2 to 6pm asking for support Anoka Regional Treatment Center. Many staff have been injured. An informational picket will be held there. Please attend if possible. They are using HSTs and MPAs to do security counselor type work.
Senate republicans have not budged on anything. Call your legislators to support governor’s budget. A shutdown is possible.
8. Officer Reports:
President: Ryan Cates- Attended the Forensic Safety Committee.
Attended Forensic Meet and Confer-
Management responded to our concerns about hospital coverage and breaks for our members by stating they will send 2 staff to do hospital coverage.
Management responded to our request to increase the vacation allotment in the Trasition program by stating if they did, they could not give every other weekend off.
Management gave a construction update.
Management stated there has been no policy change that would alter what can be brought into the secure perimeter.
Discussed organizational restructuring- they are hiring more management positions.
They are still working on an app for Atlas scheduling software.
We again asked for LPN's to be able to mutual with RN's and they claimed this could not happen unless both Union's contracts specifically allow it. This is nonsense and just and excuse to continue to limit the ability of LPN's to mutual.
We expressed concerns about the grievance process.
We asked about the parking situation with the loss of the circle lot at MSH.
We told them we have concerns with a supervisor supervising immediate family members. They dismissed our concerns, so we will try to address the situation in other ways.
We asked for more consistency in the granting of shift in progress vacation process. They will look at it.
Attended Weekly check-ins
Attended MSOP Meet and Confer.
Filed multiple grievances and sat investigations.
I presented 6 class action grievances- Failure of management to notify Local 404 when members are disciplined. Walking out members needlessly embarrasses them. Putting last chance language in discipline letters. Members on IOD not being put on the lead list. Extending probationary periods without the agreement of Local 404. Refusing to allow Union stewards into non-subject investigations.
I filed 5 more class action grievances- Failure of management to follow progressive disciplinary steps. Elimination of steps in the progressive discipline process. Requiring additional approval, outside of contract language, to grant grievances. Limiting Loudermill hearings and denying our members due process. Failure of management to act in good faith when dealing with Local 404.
Talked with members in multiple work areas and listened to their concerns.
Presented and argued grievances.
Became frustrated with management.
Communicated information to E-Board members about issues facing the Local.
Chaired the Executive Board Meeting
Chaired the General Membership Meeting.
We ask that all members who are interviewed as non-subjects in an investigation, request Union representation. If management refuses, then our members should refuse to be interviewed. Participation in investigations is completely voluntary and they cannot coerce you to answer their question or to even sit down with them. We need to do this to force management to discontinue their practice of refusing to allow Union representatives into investigations.
VP: Matt Stenger-
VP: Eric Hesse- We have been working hard on getting the safety issues fixed at the CPS program in MSOP. We are setting up a joint meet and confer with MNA regarding the safety issues for nursing as they are left alone in the Sunrise Clinic. Any time a staff is left alone, it is a potential dangerous situation and as a union, we should not be okay with this.
We are still awaiting the legislative process to see if MSOP is included in the Omnibus Health and Human Services finance bill. We have asked for a meeting with management to come up with plans on if we get the money and how to spend it and if we don’t get the money on what is going to happen.
We are still in the middle of contract negotiations. Please sign up to Member Link to get the latest updates on our state contract bargaining. It is on the right side of the home screen under “Quick Links”. The address is: https://members.afscmemn.org/
As always, if you have any concerns, issues, or questions, please feel free to contact me or another officer of the union. If we don’t hear from you, we don’t know there are issues that need resolving.
In solidarity,
Eric Hesse
Vice President – Steward Coordinator
AFSCME Local 404
Executive Board: Jake Schoenecker- This month I have been supporting members with investigations as their union representation, answering questions from members and attending the monthly EB/membership meetings. If there is any question or idea/opinion you may have please reach out and be heard!
Executive Board: Chief Steward Emilio Florez- I have been out of work for a while but have been attending meetings and will be attending our supplemental contract negotiations. I expect to be back mid June. Steve Wilking and Ryan Cates have been doing a great job and have been covering for me while I’m gone. We have our Labor and Management meeting coming up with CARE and CBHH so if you have any questions or concerns in theses areas please email anyone of us and we will add them. I have limited access to my emails and may not be able to respond in a timely manner so make sure to check union404.com for contact information on all officers.
Thank you,
Emilio Florez III
AFSCME LOCAL 404 | Chief Steward
Work: 507-985-2121 | Cell: 507-382-2917
Executive Board: Chief Steward Steve Wilking- Greetings Everyone!
I have been very busy the last month. I have attended the usual meetings….. Weekly Check-ins, meet and confer, e-board meeting and general membership meeting. I have been covering Emilio Florez’s work area as he is out on medical leave.
The past month I’ve filed many grievances and sat many investigations. The grievances were about offering people overtime (hospital coverage) that were not signed up for OT, double inversing and calling peoples’ phones when they are in the building.
Please make sure you know your contract and are not being taken advantage of. If you think you are…. Ask a steward to help. We love answering questions.
There have been many issues on campus and will continue to be many. Reach out to any e-board member to make sure your concern is being heard. Also, our General Membership meetings are the 3rd Thursday of every month if you wish to attend.
Lastly, I was informed by our council 5 field rep and our president. We have 125 arbitration cases waiting to be arbitrated. The state has heard 1 of these cases over the last year. AFSCME council 5 has a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota for unfair labor practice. I’m aware things can and do get frustrating. Please hang with us as we continue to FIGHT FOR YOU!!!
Executive Board: Chief Steward Molly Kennedy-
Executive Board: Chief Steward Marvin Sullivan- Hello all,The last month I have continued to have investigations at both the Nursing Home and in Forensic Transition Services. Most investigations have involved ETL usage so PLEASE MAKE SURE you are arriving on time to work and have accruals to cover any time away from work. I also had some seniority questions raised at Transition Services that we are currently working through. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Respectfully,
Marvin Sullivan
Chief Steward
Transition Services/ Kitchen/ Forensic Nursing Home
Executive Board: Jamie Sheppard- I attended MSOP Meet and Confer, E-Board Meeting, and the General Membership Meeting. I will also be attending Contract Negotiations May 28-30. I have been working with nursing on their issues with staff safety and we are trying to schedule a meeting ASAP with management to discuss. I also answered some questions about the MOU on the Student Loan Reimbursement, FMLA, and bidding. Please remember to forward all of your grievances to me, as well as the outcomes for ALL steps. Also, don’t forget to bring forward Good and Welfare items to myself and Kurt Crosby. If you have any questions about anything please let us know. We cannot help you if we do not know what is going on.
In Solidarity,
Jamie Sheppard, E-Board
CS Facility Support: Stacey Mueller- Nothing to Report
Chief Steward MSH / CRP / Nursing Nights: Kurt Crosby- I have sat 3 investigations this past month and have stayed busy trying to get answers to several pressing questions members have had pertaining to the contract. I attended the eboard and general membership meetings, and have filed several grievances. We are also tying as an eboard to find a way to hold management more accountable for their multiple contractual violations before they get to the grievance procedures.
Just a reminder for everyone that summer is nearly here, and the inversing may ramp up. Please remember to utilize the inverse page as that can help ease the pain of an inverse. Have a safe and fun holiday weekend everyone.
Crystal Kreklow: Total People in Local 404 - 889
Total members- 862
Total Non-Members- 27
Mom Card
Total Members on MOM card -679
Members who are NOT on MOM card- 210
Members on Direct Dues- 5
Members on Memberlink-63
Direct Dues!
See attached flier for instructions on signing up for Direct Dues
We are facing legal challenges to our dues check-off and moving to Direct Dues is Council 5’s way of getting ahead of the storm.
Just one example here in MN- SEIU Health Care Minnesota was the latest target of attacks on Dues Check off- “The Trump administrations CMS Agency issued their final rule, attempting to end dues deduction for Home Healthcare workers.” This ruling comes just over a week (May 13th) in front of the Beirman case that is waiting certification at the Supreme Court. That case would end dues checkoff nationwide in Home Health Care and Home Daycare. This is the same trajectory as Harris-v-Quinn in 2014 that set up the eventual Janus decision
We prepared for the JANUS court case with our Maintenance of membership cards (L404 has 679 on MOM cards) and when the Supreme Court sided with Janus, the affects to Local 404 were minimal!
MN may be Union strong but we are not immune from SCOTUS rulings, just as Janus hit, others will as well and we need to be prepared and that is why we are asking all to sign up for Direct Dues.
Some examples of SCOTUS potential cases to google:
Bierman v. Dayton-
Uradnik v. Inter Faculty Organization
See also https://www.afscme.org/news/press-room/press-releases/2019/workers-chose-to-stick-with-their-union
State negotiations;
Update available VIA MemberLink- Documents, Resources for locals
Local 404 Supplemental Negotiations Scheduled for 5/28-5/30 – Complete proposal will be sent to Negotiations team for review next week-
Legislative Update- The budget bills put forth by the Senate GOP leadership would be devastating for AFSCME members and working families across Minnesota. Here’s a snapshot:
- Cuts hundreds of jobs across state government, including DHS, MDH, and Corrections
- Massive hiring freeze
- Modifies SER to make passing our contracts almost impossible
- Doubles down on the tax cuts for businesses and the super-rich
- Kicks thousands of Minnesotans off the health care they depend on by letting the provider tax expire (The provider tax helps fun MNCare)
- No expansion of Working Family Tax credit
Call your Reps and ask them to support the Governor’s budget!
Crystal Kreklow
East Region Field Representative
AFSCME Council 5
612-257-0756
Motion to Adjourn by Stenger, 2nd by Wilking. Motion Passes
Adjourned at 550pm