Human Rights minutes Mar 21, 2018

Publish Date
Committees
Human Rights

MAPE / MDHR MEET AND CONFER MINUTES

March 21, 2018

 

 

For the Union:           Scott Beutel, Jill Keen, Brianne Lucio, Christina Schaffer, and Shawn Swinson-Stafford (chair)

 

For Management:      Rowzat Shipchandler

 

 

1  Procedural topics

Management and MAPE discussed the following procedural topics:

  • Cathy Bisser declined the meeting.
  • Peter Marincel, Jodie Segelstrom, and Peter Zuniga were unable to attend the meeting.
  • Shawn Swinson-Stafford asked Rowzat Shipchandler if Management considers the meeting minutes for November 2, 2017 and February 13, 2018 complete and accurate.  Rowzat Shipchandler replied that MAPE can go ahead and consider those minutes official.
  • The next Meet and Confer is tentatively scheduled for 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM on April 26, 2018.

 

 

2 Sharing of individual data from Enforcement Management Reports

Management and MAPE discussed the following topics related to the sharing of individual performance data during unit meetings and all-staff meetings:

  • Rowzat Shipchandler stated that individual performance data are public, but that Management will not share these data during all-staff meetings.  Rowzat Shipchandler also stated that Management will continue to share these data during unit meetings and that because the data are public, Management will provide them in response to Data Practices requests.  Rowzat Shipchandler elaborated that Management’s position on this issue applies to both the Case Processing Unit and the Compliance Unit.

 

 

3 Hay-related topics

Management and MAPE discussed the following Hay-related topics:

  • Rowzat Shipchandler stated that she (Rowzat Shipchandler) received “verbal recommendations” from Cathy Bisser and Jodie Segelstrom on proceeding with this issue.  Rowzat Shipchandler elaborated that Cathy Bisser and Jodie Segelstrom based their recommendations on a review of several positions.  Rowzat Shipchandler further elaborated that Management does not see much movement [in terms of upward range reassignment] on the EO1 position, but does see room for movement on the EO2 positon and envisions the possible creation of a position above the EO2 position [colloquially referred to as an “EO3”].
  • Rowzat Shipchandler stated that Management is “still anticipating a Hay study.”  Rowzat Shipchandler further stated that once a Hay study begins, MDHR will be bound by the results.
  • Christina Schaffer asked Rowzat Shipchandler if Case Processing and Compliance would have separate Hay studies.  Rowzat Shipchandler replied that she (Rowzat Shipchandler) is not sure and noted that the process is not very common. 
  • Rowzat Shipchandler stated that four committees of non-MDHR personnel will conduct the Hay study and that it will be a long process.
  • Rowzat Shipchandler stated that Management has written a letter requesting a Hay study.
  • Brianne Lucio asked Rowzat Shipchandler if the Hay analysis that Jodie Segelstrom submitted to Rowzat Shipchandler was privileged and whether MAPE could have access to it.  Brianne Lucio also asked Rowzat Shipchandler whether Jodie Segelstrom made recommendations to Rowzat Shipchandler orally or in writing.  Rowzat Shipchandler replied that Jodie Segelstrom’s recommendation were mostly oral and informal.
  • Rowzat Shipchandler stated that Management looked at compensation and the possibility of adding new positions.  In addition, Rowzat Shipchandler pointed out that Management has sent employees to leadership-development courses that the State of Minnesota offers.
  • Replying to Brianne Lucio’s questions above, Rowzat Shipchandler stated that she (Rowzat Shipchandler) is not sure if Management can share the Hay letter Management had written, but that she (Rowzat Shipchandler) will ask MMB whether Management can share the letter.
  • Scott Beutel stated that he is concerned about the issue of employee turnover and that he wants Management and MAPE to continue discussing the issue even after the completion of the Hay study.  Also, Scott Beutel noted that city and county pay scales are higher than State of Minnesota pay scales.
  • Christina Schaffer noted that the nature of MDHR’s mission, which has rendered MDHR vulnerable to partisan attacks, could affect the Hay study or the implementation of the study’s results.  Rowzat Shipchandler replied that the Legislature does look at MDHR’s enforcement data.  Also, Rowzat Shipchandler noted that MDHR has more work to do and more information to gather in preparation for the Hay study.
  • Rowzat Shipchandler stated that in the next few days, Management will send a letter to MMB requesting a Hay study.  Rowzat Shipchandler also stated that she (Rowzat Shipchandler) had hoped to bring a draft of the letter to today’s Meet and Confer.
  • Revisiting what Rowzat Shipchandler had said about not seeing much movement for the EO1 positon, but seeing movement for the EO2 position, Shawn Swinson-Stafford noted that the EO2 positon is currently a 10L and asked Rowzat Shipchandler if Management had a certain other wage range in mind for it.  Rowzat Shipchandler reiterated that Management is considering the creation of another tier of EO’s [EO3’s], and noted that Management will take other factors into consideration as well.
  • Scott Beutel asked to which wage range the position of Legal Analyst is assigned.  Rowzat Shipchandler replied that the position of Legal Analyst is an 11L and requires a law degree, but not MN licensure, while the position of Associate General Counsel is an 18L and requires a law degree and MN licensure.

 

4 Miscellaneous

  • Rowzat Shipchandler raised the topic of comp time and asked MAPE to poll members and fee payers who have comp time as to whether they want to roll over their comp time to the next fiscal year vs. having Management cash out their comp time.  Shawn Swinson-Stafford agreed to poll the members and fee payers, but asked Rowzat Shipchandler how Management would respond if some individuals wanted to roll over their comp time and other individuals wanted Management to cash out their comp time.  Rowzat Shipchandler replied that Management will honor the applicable MAPE contract provision, and that Management just needs to know MAPE’s decision.
  • Scott Beutel discussed legislative developments, including potential approval of the MAPE contract and the development of a bill that would limit the amount of time a State of Minnesota employee could telecommute to 20%.