MAPE

Local 101 Minutes

MAPE Local 0101 June 12th, 2008

Held at DNR Called to order by President Carol Johnson. Announcements: None

Richard Kolodziejski, MAPE Lobbyist was with us to give a legislative update.

Contracts: This session was the first time in MAPE's history that the collective bargaining agreements were passed before the end of session as a separate bill. Previously they are always placed in some other bill. This time legislators had to go on record to support or not support our contracts.

Workforce Planning and Retention: Nearly sixty percent of the state workforce will be eligible to retire in the next 8 years. This bill did not pass this session. It would have required the state to compensate 233 of nearly 1900 job classifications according to the state’s own compensation study (HAY) program. The governor supported it right up until the end of session. The governor pulled his support and threatened to veto the 300 page deficit bill over the provision.

Universal Health Care / Single Payer: Small strides were made this year. 12,000 additional Minnesotans are now eligible for Minnesota Care. Health care affordability will be studied. The legislature contained the Governor’s proposed $250 million Health Care Access Fund raid to only $50 million.

Pensions: The Legislative pension commission is going to study to see if our pension compensation is adequate. Legislation passed that eliminates the statewide public retirement plan post-retirement adjustment mechanism if or when the funding ratio falls below 80 percent or falls below 85 percent and remains at that level for two consecutive years. Upon elimination, there will be a 2.5 percent post-retirement adjustment. All assets would be funded back to the retirement funds.

Provision: State employees have always been able to use up to 1 hour for on-site blood donations, they may now use up to 3 hours for off site blood donations. MnSCU employees are exempt from the statute. A 14-day notice must be provided to the employer. This is already in effect.

Health Care Savings Account: These were added to the Commissioners plan and the managerial plan as an option in 2010. MAPE may work against this next session as it has the potential to affect our premiums. MAPE views this as a slippery slope to negotiating benefits away from state employees who have sacrificed wages and went on strike to maintain the health insurance benefits they currently have. The plans will be an option that will allow people who experience medical problems to option back into SEGIP at open enrollment and pass the costs on to the people currently in the plan.

Definition of dependants: Nothing happened this session with a proposed change to raise the possible dependent age from 21 to 25 for Local governments. This was previously not a major MAPE initiative. It has a potential 13 million dollar cost associated with it for the state.

Bill to require notification of DHS facility closures: This was vetoed by the governor. DHS did not support it.

Whistle Blower Legislation: This would have allowed state employees to contact their legislators without the fear of repercussions when reporting misuse of funds, power or other improprieties within a state agency. This bill was vetoed by the Governor.

Richard is looking for contacts within each local to help distribute Team MAPE reports. If you are interested in helping, please contact him.

Secretary's Report: M/S/P to accept.
Treasurer's Report: Bruce gave the report. He did not have a balance report from MAPE at this time. May expenses were $259.02 for food, $25 for a gift card for Patrick Moore who has been off for many weeks due to a family illnesses. Balance is $15,002.24

New Business: None Old Business: None

Chief Steward Report: Bud Kincaid reported that he had no grievance update from Joe so he expects there are still 3 active grievances at DOLI and 1 at DNR. There have been no M&C meetings yet, one is scheduled for June 19th with DNR and June 20th with DOLI.

Director’s Report: Jeanne Gehrman reported there was no board meeting since we last met.

Negotiations Report: Carol Johnson asked to get in any resolution forms so we can vote on them next meeting and bring them to Delegate Assembly. The deadline is July 11th for submission to MAPE.

Health Club Memberships: Bud had a question from a member. It was about the $20 reimbursement for a health club membership during the last round of negotiations. Carol Johnson, our representative on the negotiations team for the last contract responded. It was calculated that 12% of our membership would participate in this and it was deemed to be a big deal by the state. Also, it was noted that many outstate members would not have good facilities to go to or even a facility nearby.

Some discussion ensued and one suggestion was brought up and will be voted on next meeting as a resolution to allow members to use the sick time cash equivalent to pay for such memberships. Some county employees in Minnesota are able to do this already.

Bus passes: DNR used to subsidize these, now they do not but at least participate in the program which is still beneficial to employees due to the discount involved. It was noted that any department that does participate is on the hook for the remainder of the year if an employee leaves the agency or state service so there is some risk of cost to them. DOLI does not participate and has been asked numerous times to participate. PCA does and subsidizes the cost but it was not known by how much. DOLI Meet & Confer will try to coordinate with other DOLI unions on this issue.

Local Elections: 2 positions are contested, as mentioned below.

Negotiations Team Member: Running are NICO CearGeo, DNR MIS Computer Support Help Desk and Carol Johnson, MIS Data and Applications Team.
NICO: Wants to make clear the need and importance for members to contact their legislators and to get the word to them that we need a salary supplement. He will emphasize communication to members.
Carol: Enjoyed being on the team last time, wishes to contribute to it one more time. She did not miss a meeting and they had negotiations wrapped up before July 1st.

Delegates to Delegate Assembly: Local 0101 gets a total of 4 Delegates (President counts as 1) and 4 Alternates. Jeanne attends as the Regional Director and doesn't count in our total. We need to elect 3 Delegates and 4 Alternates. Those running are: Kari Geurts DNR Forestry, Maryanna Harstad DNR Lands and Minerals. DNR, NICO CearGeo DNR Management Information Systems, Ann Kuitunen DNR Ecological Resources and Laurel Reeves DNR Waters – GW.

Business Agent Report: Joe McMahon was absent.

Good and Welfare: M/S/P to donate $25 to Camp Courage in memorial of DNR staffer Brett Anderson who recently retired and passed away shortly after his retirement. M/S/P to send $25 gift card to retired DOLI employee Marcia Easton. M/S/P to send $25 to Tom Gullett who retired from DNR last fall.

M/S/P to review local policies next month with the idea of raising the amount of some of the donations to members for hardships and retirements.

Next meeting is July 8th at DNR at noon.

M/S/P to adjourn. Respectfully submitted by Secretary Jed Becher