MAPE – DEED Meet and Confer
December 18, 2007
MAPE: Gary Johnson, Ted Sitz, Dean Gunderson, Jamie Fitzpatrick, Bob Mayer, Rick Nelson Business Agent, Ron Pederson-chair.
DEED: Kathy Nelson – UI, Bonnie Elsey – Workforce Development, Ed Valencia – BIT, Mary Oman – HR
- Follow-up on Fired Drill Emergency Procedures at 1st Bank Building
DEED stated there were no plans to have a complete evacuation drill of staff. They stated the building owners were no in favor of a drill. DEED was still working with the building ownership on this matter. DEED said most areas had mock evacuation drills. The matter was brought up at the DEED Safety Committee where MAPE has a representative on the committee. MAPE offered to call into the State Fire Marshall if that would help to move this matter along.
MAPE brought up Metro Square had an issue also in their building when the elevators were being worked on and the escalators were blocked off.
- Follow-up – IT positions
MAPE had previous discussions concerning the possible cutting of staff in the IT section. Due to the problems with the “new UI system”, the staff was still being utilized. DEED informed us that a few of the affected employees have either retired or transferred. That were looking at February or March for layoffs but really don’t know the exact timeframe nor the numbers it will be. The positions involved staff trained in COBOL as JAVA is now the language used on the system mainly. It was reported there were 14 positions involved.
- Follow-up – Rochester WFC
MAPE filed a grievance concerning health conditions due to water damage at the present WFC location. The matter is being handled by DOER and Administration staff. They are working with the building owners to correct the problems. An air assessment was done, clean up on the mold, and painting has been done so far. The final report/findings have not yet been completed. MAPE will receive a copy of the findings.
- UI Division
Due to the implementation of a new UI computer system, a number of issues were brought to management’s attention; work backlog, overtime, stress levels, repetitive stress syndrome, and staffing levels.
MAPE explained that staff at St. Cloud and St. Paul were becoming very stressed out, being treated like they were on an assembly line, and being monitored for “piece work”. Management is going around and instead of offering encouragement and support however the opposite was happening. The staff is staying late due to the fact the phone lines are still busy after regular hours and people have been on hold for long periods.
MAPE had received numerous complaints from members concerning the working conditions and problems with the new system. DEED acknowledged that there are problems with the new system and that there is a large backlog. They stated supervisors were instructed to encourage not to police. Management explained that the new system would be continued to be refined over the next few years. There is no simple resolution at this time. It was noted that the UI claim load will peak during the winter months so it is anticipated there will continue to be a heavy work load. DEED noted that the holidays in November and December caused short weeks which added to the backlog. Overtime is being offered to help with the backlog but management knows that is not the solution. It is expected that 40 new staff will be hired and commence training in January 2008. The new staff will be in the call centers. DEED explained that they continue to focus on fixing the system and having it work as originally intended. Staff was focusing on quality, integrity and attempting to make the system more user friendly. The DEED leadership is amazed of the dedication of the UI staff and appreciates it. It was noted that DEED was receiving complaints from UI applicants as well as they are hearing from the Governor’s office and Legislative offices.
The possibility of injury from repetitive motion stress was discussed as was the need to have stress relaxation techniques. It was also noted to management that staff are being moved to different job duties.
MAPE will continue to monitor the situation and take whatever action that may be necessary.
Executive Director of MAPE Jim Monroe did meet with Commissioner McElroy, Mary Oman, and Kathy Nelson reiterating MAPE’s concerns and views on these matters.
- Business Service Specialist Positions
MAPE questioned why some of the new hires in these positions were not receiving the same level of training as the original hires. DEED stated they weren’t since the new hires had business backgrounds instead of social service backgrounds. New hires were receiving the manual for self study. MAPE does not feel this is adequate training. MAPE questioned if staff were being disciplined for not making their 30 business visits per month. DEED stated the 30 visits is a bench mark and to their knowledge, no one has been denied a step increase for not making their 30 visits. They elaborated that the staff is more than job developers and do provide technical assistance to the employers.
MAPE questioned when a Hay Study was done on this classification.
MAPE also stated it had received concerns from staff that the MnWorks system was having problems. Staff had concerns too that clients were having problems and contacting them.
- Rehab Counselor Classification
MAPE voiced concerns over the way a pay inequity for this class was being implemented. The inequity was being implemented by anniversary date so many senior staff were receiving increases after some less senior employees. MAPE and DEED would continue to review this matter but DOER dictates how the process.
- Federal Budgets cuts/layoffs
The Federal Budget had not yet been finalized. It was not known if or how large cuts would be. DEED had been told a cut would be coming so they have been operating under that scenario. As of this date of the meeting, no layoffs were planned but it could change when the budget figures are finalized.
