General Membership Meeting-AFSCME 404
June 18, 2020
1030 PM Video Conference
Present:
Adam Castle, Ryan Cates, Eric Hesse, Kurt Crosby, Emilio Florez, Annie Jakacki, Alex Flores
1.Secretary Report:
*During tele meetings, the union is unable to vote or make motions*
2. Treasurer-Antonino Guerrero:
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR MONTH ENDING: May 2020
CASH BALANCE BEGINNING OF MONTH: $ 107310.15
INCOME FOR THE MONTH: $ 7945.22
EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH: $ 0
CASH BALANCE ENDING OF MONTH: $ 115255.37
SAVINGS: $ 80195.97
SUBMITTED BY: Antonino Guerrero
3. Correspondence: International is coming up in August. Looking for delegates interested. Let Hesse know if you would like to be a delegate. It is two to three days long.
We have been getting emails from MAPE about our members wearing ripped jeans. This is not approved attire. Please be mindful about the dress code.
MSH Meeting Minutes: https://www.union404.com/news/june-2020-forensics-meet-and-confer
MSOP Meeting Minutes: https://www.union404.com/news/june-2020-msop-meet-and-confer
4. New Business: The eboard has been discussing going back to live meetings. We will continue to monitor the Covid situation and communicate any changes to the members.
5. Old Business:
6. Items from the membership:
7. Good and Welfare:
8. Officer Reports:
President: Ryan Cates- This past month I have…
Attended Forensic Meet and Confer via teleconference-
-Management brought up that supervisors are having trouble getting stewards to sit investigations- We replied that we need to be given time, they cannot expect to have a steward ready and at their beckon call.
-Management told us Pine and North Campus are going to be separated in to 2 different units.
-Nobody will be inversed to the screening tent.
-AODS pool not following the agreed upon process for assigning coverage- management will look into.
-We want a mask for every staff every day, not 1 or 2 a week- management does not care if our members are protected.
-Are cameras being used to monitor rounds and mask wearing- management claims rounds no, masks yes but not individuals, just numbers.
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.
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.
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- Well, the pandemic continues. I continue to attend MSOP Meet and Confer. This month I was on vacation for Forensic Meet and Confer, Safety Committee. I covered the union while Ryan Cates was on vacation. I and took many calls regarding union questions. I continue to work on various union tasks behind the scenes.
Communication
FMHP
We continue to battle back and forth on many issues. Most importantly the continued violation of our contract repeatedly. If you have any concerns of any type…. Please reach out to your union official to get it addressed. I’d like to continue with a monthly reminder that contract proposals will be coming up this fall. If there is any part of the contract you don’t like…. Please submit a proposal or talk to a union official so your contract concerns can be addressed via a proposal. We had a closing conference for OSHA about radio concerns. They did not issue a citation but issued recommendations for management.
MSOP
We continue to address concerns with Health Services and various isolated concerns within MSOP. Please continue to reach out to any elected officer to address your concerns. As I mentioned above…. I’d like to continue with a monthly reminder that contract proposals will be coming up this fall. If there is any part of the contract you don’t like…. Please submit a proposal or talk to a union official so your contract concerns can be addressed via a proposal.
Contract
While I was on vacation this month…. I haven’t been able to break down the next contract section. I will have this broken down for next month. Apologies to all who looked forward to these.
ARTICLE
Rumors
Well not much on the rumor front so I’ll address a specific topic here. We’ve had many a conversations about the Covid-19. How do you qualify for covid leave? What if my doctor wants me to quarantine? There have been so many questions I can’t keep track. I have 2 answers for you on this topic. The first…. Please feel free to contact the local HR in Ali Kuhlman, Patrick Patterson or Elizabeth Trandom for some of your covid answers. The second answer is…. Talk to Ryan Cates, Marvin Sullivan or myself as we often deal with HR/management on these concerns.
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
VP: Eric Hesse- We are still diligently working on all things COVID related. We continue to meet via conference call weekly, along with our other labor partners, with Admin of both Forensics and MSOP to discuss any issues or concerns that arise due to COVID. We continue to strive to make sure all of our members are provided with the proper PPE to safely do their job and to protect their health. We also continue to strive to get all of our members that cannot work from home hazard pay. In MSOP, we were finally able to convince Administration to fit test those working on the dedicated COVID unit for N95 respirators. If you are having any issues regarding COVID Lave, please reach out.
Luckily, the legislature and our governor approved our contracts outright and we will be receiving the 2.5% cost of living increase come July 1st. Thank you to any of you that reach out to their legislator and urged them to pass our fair contract that was bargained in good faith in spite of some legislators wanting to negotiate directly with the union, or overstepping collective bargaining rights, and trying to change the terms of the agreement.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us.
Executive Board: Jake Schoenecker- Over the past month I have been sitting investigations and taking part in union meetings
Executive Board: Chief Steward Emilio Florez- Emilio Florez Steward Report:
CALL ME IMMEDIATELY IF YOU WERE INVESTIGATED AND FELT THIS HAPPENED TO YOU:
QUESTIONS OF ENTRAPMENT.
FOLLOWING UP ANSWERS AS IF IN DOUBT.
REWORDING QUESTIONS DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET A CHANGE IN ANSWERS.
BADGERING WITH THE SAME QUESTION WHEN NOT ANSWERED FAST ENOUGH.
PULLING STEWARDS WHO HAVE NEVER DONE AN INVESTIGATION TO SIT ONE TO SIT YOURS.
NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT BEFOREHAND SO WE AS EMPLOYEES HAVE NO CHANCE TO PREPARE.
This needs to STOP!
Things to consider when subject and non subject investigations occur:
Don’t say anything without a steward present if being questioned. Ask for a steward if one is not present.
You can choose your own steward.
Only answer the question asked no more information is necessary.
Remember you have the right not to answer any questions at all if you wish.
Don’t answer open ended questions or go beyond the questions asked.
Think carefully before you say anything.
Know whats in your supervisory and personnel files these may be requested every 2months with our HR department in Pedersen.
Don’t talk to anyone unauthorized.
If you answer a question once then you don’t have to answer again.
Don’t sign anything without a steward present.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED AND HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK IN FOR A FOLLOW UP INTERVIEW CALL ME DIRECTLY.
IF YOU FEEL YOU MIGHT BE INVESTIGATED CALL ME DIRECTLY.
Don’t get blindsided be prepared YOUR career may depend on it!
I have still been working away! Many issues are starting to slowly clear up, however; it seems like where one problem ends another begins. Please know we are fighting and pushing to make these times a little more comfortable for everyone. We appreciate all the support members have shown and all the hard work being put in on this. I am seeing true unity and our directional path has narrowed for the better.
Executive Board: Chief Steward Alex Flores- Attended interest based problem solving, safety meeting, meet and confer also attended afscme officer meeting. Filed a North Campus grievance. Met with some staff in prairie view and forest view.
Executive Board: Chief Steward Nick Weerts- It’s been another active month for myself, and everyone else! These continue to be busy times for everyone involved with AFSCME. Even with COVID adjustments, I’ve continued attending MSOP Labor Management meetings as well as various meetings with, and regarding, Health Services. That department is continuing its slow transition to the Atlas Scheduling program, as well as battling some serious staff shortages. We continue to collaborate closely with our MNA counterparts & have a joint Nursing Staff meeting in the works! There are plenty of questions being fielded regarding COVID leave & other work places concerns related to the pandemic. I have filed a couple of OT/Inverse related grievances, though there are many delays with HR, due to COVID, so members are encouraged to be patient. I recently presented a non-cert 3rd Step Grievance, which was a successful win for the grievant! Keeping on top of continued work place concerns for CPS as well as other areas. Still striving for good communication & transparency. Please see www.union404.com for all meeting minutes.
Respectfully Submitted,
Nick Weerts
MSOP Chief Steward
Executive Board: Chief Steward Marvin Sullivan- Did Not Report
Executive Board: Jamie Sheppard- On Leave
CS Facility Support: Stacey Mueller- On Leave
Chief Steward MSH / CRP / Nursing Nights: Kurt Crosby- Did Not Report
Annie Jakacki- Reminder that the office is closed. Issues with memberlink or other questions, the MAP team is available via email. Local numbers are 895 total staff with 857 members at 95.7 percent.
Adjourned at 1047PM