General Membership Meeting-AFSCME 404
February 16, 2023
4:30pm
Present:
Erin Wiederich, Ryan Cates, Steaed Doehring, Annie Jakacki, James Kibler, Matt Stenger, Eric Manriquez, Cory Moon, Antonino Guerrero, Jamie Schwartz, Eric Hesse, Lisa Brandenburg, Kyle Heinze, Ben Zarn, Cassy Rydell, Cami Baune
My apologies for anyone that I missed via zoom.
1.Secretary Report:
Motion to approve meeting minutes by Erin Wiederich. 2nd by Matt Stenger. Motion passes.
2. Treasurer-Antonino Guerrero:
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR MONTH ENDING: January 2023
CASH BALANCE BEGINNING OF MONTH: $ 179619.90
INCOME FOR THE MONTH: $ 7327.66
EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH: $ 5744.73
CASH BALANCE ENDING OF MONTH: $ 181202.83
SAVINGS: $ 152908.11
SUBMITTED BY: Antonino Guerrero
Motion to accept subject to audit by Eric Manriquez. 2nd by Matt Stenger. Motion passes.
3. Correspondence:
4. New Business:
1.Negotiations assembly started end of January. Matt Stenger and Eric Hesse made the master negotiations team which is good. March 10 is the next assembly.
2. State Employee Policy Committee convention is May 5th, you must have the day off to attend, but let Eric Manriquez if you’d like to attend. The committee does approve MOU for state workers. They also give opinion on arbitration committee.
3. Kitchen workers- The kitchen workers got a pay inequity. Congratulations to them! We’re still working on getting it for other job classes.
5. Old Business:
1.Day on the Hill March 28th if interested contact Eric Manriquez.
2. Lobby Week-There was a lobby week this week where we discussed pay inequities, adding more positions to 55 retirement (like maintenance workers, food service workers, dental hygienist), and better wages. The legislators seemed supportive, and we left them with the message to contact Marshall Smith. A council 5 lobbyist was with the members that went this week which was extremely helpful.
There’s another lobby week March 20-2, if interested let Eric Manriquez know. Full day of going up there if you’d like to attend. We do a per diem if you’re interested. A motion to pay for parking this week and in March was made by Matt Stenger. Second by James Kibler. Motion passes.
6. Items from the membership:
1. A motion to pay Steaed Doehring back $475 for the pay inequity study was made by Matt Stenger. It was seconded by James Kibler. Motion passes. Annie is working on pay inequity with DHS/DCT and pushing on MMB.
2. Union had a meeting today to discuss Grove A on moving positions between nursing and HST. Hoping to get more information back soon. The cameras are getting put in at prairie and forest view along with the nursing home.
3. Pay inequities are needed now! Not later! We’re pushing as hard as we can and as fast as we can.
7. Good and Welfare:
8. 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- Notes are attached to the meeting minutes.
Chaired the February Executive Board meeting
Chaired the February General Membership meeting
Filed multiple grievances and sat investigations.
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.
We continue to push for changes to the vacation process in FMHP, that will allow more members to take vacation when they want to.
I have talked to state Legislators about the staffing issues at Forensics and MSOP in St Peter.
We want to remind all staff in FMHP to update your preferred days off in atlas. Scheduling will no longer send an email when days off are going to change, they will just go by what is in atlas.
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.
Went to St Paul for Local 404’s lobby week- On 2-13-23 we set up meetings with numerous legislators and met with our local legislator. We advocated for increased wages and asked for support to push pay inequities for our members. We met with lobbyist from council 5 t discuss our meetings with legislators. On 2-14-23 we met with council 5 lobbyists and Union reps from Local 1092 out of Moose Lake. Then met with 8 house members to advocate for increased wages and the addition of classifications to CERP. On 2-15-23 we met with 3 senators and 4 house members to advocate for increased wages and the addition of classifications to CERP. All of the meetings, during lobby week, were positive and almost all the legislators expressed support for us and for wage increases.
President: Ryan Cates- This past month I have…
Attended Forensic Meet and Confer- Notes are attached to the meeting minutes.
Attended MSOP Meet and Confer- Notes are attached to the meeting minutes.
Filed multiple grievances and sat investigations.
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.
We continue to push for changes to the vacation process in FMHP, that will allow more members to take vacation when they want to.
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: Matt Stenger-
VP: Eric Hesse-
Executive Board: Chief Steward- Rick Pitts-
Executive Board: Chief Steward - Eric Manriquez-
Executive Board: Chief Steward Nick Weerts- It was a busy couple of months at MSOP. I did attend our monthly Labor Management meeting, but due to a vacation out of the country I was not at our Eboard/General Membership meeting. I did assist with the Forensics New Member Orientation & facilitated the seniority lot draw, though was on vacation during the MSOP NEO. Please be sure to welcome these folks as they make their way into their new work areas across our campus.
I did sit a couple of investigations, as well as assisted in the preparation of a 3rd Step Grievance for a Non-Cert. I’m currently preparing to present two 3rd Step Grievances in March.
I joined some OASI staff as they met with Admin to clarify some job duties/expectations and work schedules.
I continue to try and make rounds throughout the work areas in MSOP to discuss concerns or issues with staff. As always, I can be reached by email/phone at any time and do my best to promptly follow-up.
HR continues to have massive staffing changes/turnover that is continues to be a challenge for us all. The generic emails are as followings
Contact for HR is [email protected]
Leave Management requests (FMLA) should go to [email protected]
Communication continues to be key to our success & strength, so Members are encouraged to reach out with concerns/observations. Please see www.union404.com for all meeting minutes.
Onward & Forward!
Nick Weerts
MSOP Chief Steward
2.28.2023
Executive Board: Chief Steward Marvin Sullivan-
Executive Board: Chief Steward James Kibler-
Executive Board: Chief Steward Cory Moon--
Executive Board: Chief Steward Steve Wilking-
Executive Board: Jamie Schwartz-
Executive Board: Mike Hohenstein-
Executive Board: Steaed Doehring-
Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Ben and seconded by Eric. Motion passes. Meeting adjourned at 5:30pm