LOCAL

INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS PUBLIC AND LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES UNION

320Fall 2015 Edition Volume XVIII - Issue #3

IN THIS ISSUE... 2. Secretary-Treasurers Report, Brian Aldes 4. Presidents Report, Sami Gabriel 4. Vice Presidents Report, Curt Swenson 5. Know Your Rights, Paula Johnston 5. Recording Secretarys Report, Craig Johnson

TEAMSTERS IN ACTION!

CHISAGO COUNTY TEAMSTERS RALLY

AT BOARD MEETINGFOR FAIR CONTRACT!

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LOCAL 320 SECRETARY-TREASURERS REPORT

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By Brian Aldes

University of Min-nesota Teamsters are turning up the heat on an ungrateful administration. The contract negotiations between Local 320

and the University have hit a crossroads.

In August, University Teamsters set up informational pickets at Crookston, Duluth and the Twin Cities campuses. Hundreds of Teamsters and supporters marched on the campuses in support of a fair contract.

We stood in solidarity with student groups and faculty and received positive com-ments, thumbs up, and approving honks from students and their families on move-in day.

On Tuesday, September 15, Teamsters joined by AFSCME Locals 3800 and 3937 delivered over 10,000 petition signatures in support of raises and respect for front-line workers at the University.

Unionized front-line workers delivered the petitions to University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler and Vice President for Human Resources Kathy Brown. President Kaler was unavailable to receive the peti-tions, but Vice President Brown accepted the petitions in person and thanked front-line staff for their dedication to the Univer-sity.

Currently Local 320 and the University are in mediation and it is my hope that we can reach a fair settlement soon. Teamsters de-cided to turn up the heat on the administra-tion because front-line staff have not been given a fair shake over the past several years. University Teamsters felt it was time to fight back.

United we bargain, divided we beg!

OFFICERS AND STAFF

Brian AldesSecretary-Treasurer and

Principal OfficerSami Gabriel

President/Business AgentCurt Swenson

Vice President/Business AgentCraig Johnson

Recording-Secretary/Business Agent

Marcia (Marty) LambTrustee, St. Paul ISD 625

Richard WheelerTrustee, MSUAASFAlston Dutchin

Trustee, U of MPaula Johnston

General Counsel

Local 320 Business AgentsAmy Hill

Bob KolstadMichael KoppRoger Meunier

Terry NeubergerVance Rolfzen

Erik Skoog

Communications | LobbyistGus Froemke

Support StaffSusan Bastian

Ron PhillipsSuzanne Slawson

Joni SpauldingKristi ZieglerKatie Ziembo

Minneapolis, MN Local Union Office8:00am - 4:00pmP: 612-378-8700F: 612- 331-89481-800-637-5430

Onlinewww.teamsterslocal320.org

Emaillocal320@teamsterslocal320.org

Published by Teamsters Local 320

3001 University Ave SE #500Minneapolis, MN 55414

TURNING UP THE HEAT

CHISAGO COUNTY TEAMSTERSRALLY FOR FAIR CONTRACT

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In early summer 2015, Teamsters Local 320 solic-ited contract proposals from four of the represented bargaining units: Engineering Technicians, High-way, Health & Human Services and Government Center Professionals in Chisago County. From the beginning, wages and health insurance were the priority along with various increases to benefit ac-cruals. On July 30, Local 320 entered negotiations armed with the support of the membership, but negotiations quickly soured and Teamsters were forced to file for mediation.

The Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS) appoint-ed a state mediator and Teamsters were soon back at the table, working towards a mutual agreement. Then on August 31, the County provided a counter proposal on wages which was 3 percent less than was originally offered. The obvious insult did not sit well with the Committee and Business Agent Erik Skoog who provided an ultimatum to encourage the County to re-think their offer.

As negotiations progressed, the County made an offer which would include a 7 percent wage increase over three years, maintain and absorb all health insurance increases for 2016, absorb up to a 10 percent insurance increase, and then split any additional increase 50/50 for 2017 and 2018. Teamsters were successful in increasing the comp bank to 60 hours, an additional $125 for the highway boot allowance and $125 for their safety glasses.

Chisago County Commissioner Mike Robinson made it very clear that his authority was set at 6 percent: however, he felt Teamsters made a com-pelling argument and was not interested in a strike. He went ahead and convinced the other Commis-sioners that the Teamster agreement was in the best interest of the entire County.

As a sign of support to Commissioner Robinson, and to ensure the Boards ratification, 30 Team-sters attended the September County Board meeting wearing their union t-shirts. After a short discussion, Mr. Robinson made a motion to ratify the Teamster agreements, and with acknowledge-ment and thank you from the rest of the Board, the agreements were ultimately ratified.

In all the years I have negotiated contracts at Chisago County, the members serving on this committee were some of the best, says long-time Teamster Steward Nancy Schroeder. Discussion was lively and thoughtful at the same time. Two key people guiding us to an agreement were our Business Agent, Erik Skoog and a former Team-ster, Commissioner Mike Robinson.

Please join Teamsters Local 320 and thank Nancy, who has helped negotiate every Chisago County labor contract for the past 25 years, for serving Chisago County Teamsters so very well. Lets wish her luck in her upcoming retirement!

Local 320 recognizes that Minnesotas public defense employees are indeed overworked and an arbitrator stated the following in BMS Case No. 12-PA-0194:

A lack of adequate state funding for constitutionally mandated public defender services requires assistant public defender attorneys to work long and stressful hours on a shoestring budget.

Please join Local 320 in support of a national petition to excuse all education debt for practicing public defenders.

Online at: http://www.alternet.org/video/john-oliver-if-youre-relying-your-public-defender-youre-fcked

GROWING SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC DEFENDERS

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PRESIDENTS REPORT

By Sami Gabriel

From law enforcement to State Legislators to judges -- we all agree public defenders do some of the greatest work moving the wheels of justice in American society. Without public defenders justice would

be denied to millions of Americans and the U.S. Constitution would not live up to its ideals of justice for all.

All Minnesota state public defenders are Teamsters.

Popular comedian and talk show host John Oliver exposed the nationwide crisis for public defenders on his HBO television show Last Week Tonight. Oliver questioned whether defenders can make a proper defense while being extremely overworked.

VICE PRESIDENTS REPORT

CHILDREN OF UNION MEMBERS FARE BETTERBy Curt Swenson

A study titled Bargaining for the American Dream: What Unions Do for Mobility, says children who grow up in union households have a greater chance at economic success than children growing up in

non-union households.

As Teamsters know, unions lead to a better quality of life. The study demonstrates the following:

Union jobs may be more stable and predict-able, which could produce a more stable living environment.

Union jobs are more likely to provide family health insurance.

Union workers make more money than compa-rable non-union workers what economists call the union premium and when parents make more money, their children tend to make more money which economists refer to as the intergenerational earnings elasticity.

The study notes that while statistics suggest a strong correlation between unions and mobility, further study is needed before a causal relationship can be proven.

Nevertheless, the study concludes that unions often advocate for policies that benefit all working people, such as minimum wage increases and increased spending on schools and public services.

Fair SchedulingA proposal for an ordinance to require employers to post all employees schedules 28 days (or one month) in advance of the shift. Employer must pay predictability pay for any change of schedule within those 28 days.

Earned Sick TimeA proposal for an ordinance to require employers to pay one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked by an employee to use for illness, medical care and care of family member with illness.

Teamsters Local 320 also expects to see some upward movement on the Citys minimum wage and action against employers who commit wage theft.

LOCAL 320 ATTORNEY & GENERAL COUNSEL

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By Paula Johnston

During an investigatory interview, a public em-ployer often asks for information that would be classified as private or confidential under state law. Before the start of an interview where such information is collected (or before any other type of interview or request for such information), a public employer is required by Minn. Stat. 13.04, subd. 2, to provide the employee with a Tennessen warn-ing.

The Tennessen warning must contain the following:(1) The purpose and intended use of the requested data within the collecting government entity;(2) Whether the individual may refuse or is legally required to supply the requested data;(3) Any known consequence arising from sup-plying or refusing to supply private or confidential data; and(4) The identity of other persons or entities au-thorized by state or federal law to receive the data.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: WHAT IS A TENNESSEN WARNING?

The employer may use another name for the warn-ing, such as privacy notice or request for private or confidential data. No specific name is necessary, so long as the four requirements listed above are met. Most employers give a written Tennessen warning that an employee must sign and date, but the law does not require that the warning be in writing.

An employer is not required to give a Tennessen warning if the data being requested is not about the individual being asked. For example, if an employee is merely a witness to an event and is not questioned about anything that she herself did, no warning is required. (Some employers take a better safe than sorry approach and give warnings to every employee that is questioned during an investigation. This is not harmful to the employees and in fact provides a ben-efit to them).

If an employer fails to give a Tennessen warning be-fore requesting private or confidential data, it may not use or store the information for any purpose unless it obtains the employees informed consent to do so.

#MPLSWORKS!

RECORDING SECRETARYS REPORT

By Craig Johnson

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges launched the Work-ing Family Agenda during her State of the City speech in April. The City Council re-sponded and passed a reso-lution to create a workgroup to develop policy proposals

around two major issues that low-income workers are facing: fair scheduling and earned sick time.

Teamsters Local 320 supports the Working Family Agenda to bring up standards for the working poor.

The Teamsters Service Bureau provides FREE CONFIDENTIAL services for you and your family.

We can assist you with balancing and managing many of lifes challenges. Remember... Problems and stress can and do happen! Call the Service Bureau today. Were here to help! 612-676-3700 (or 24-hour toll free 1-800-979-9725)

Our professional counselors can help you with:

Emotional Concerns Financial Problems Family/Marriage Issues Chemical Dependency Stress/Anxiety and

Depression Legal Concerns