http://www.afscmelocal34.org/
Broke in the Land of Pawlenty
AFSCME Council 5, Local 34, Hennepin County Social Services and Related Employees
Voluntary Special Leave Without Pay
The Local 34 Position
Local 34 and the Hennepin County AFSCME
Policy Committee support and encourage each
member to use the 2009 Budget Savings Plan, or
Voluntary Special Leave Without Pay.
June 2009
General Assembly
Wednesday,
June 3, 2009
5:30 pm
Health Services Bldg,
Room 110
Special accommodations will be
made for our physically
challenged members. Please call
596-1003 or 348-0266 if
arrangements need to be made.
July 2009
General Assembly
Wednesday,
July 1, 2009
(HSB 110)
Local 34 Banner
Please read President Jean Diederich’s column
on the back page of this newsletter, where she
has described the background to the County
Board’s decision to put forward this plan, and the
reasons for it. It is also clearly stated that
AFSCME does not support mandatory furloughs.
Each of us is being asked to voluntarily turn back
some of our pay before December 19, 2009.
Board members have sworn off raises they were
to receive this year. County administrators and
managers at many levels agreed to 24 hours
without pay before this plan was approved by the
Board. Commissioner McLaughlin’s proposal
asks each of us to volunteer up to 32 hours (four
days), recognizing that while some may even
volunteer more than 32 hours, many others will
not be able to afford to do so. The original target,
remember, is 24 hours per County employee.
If the goal of approximately 200,000 hours is not
committed to by July 1, mandatory furloughs of
24 hours will be implemented. Please consider
what you can sacrifice, and commit those hours
by June 5. Take a day, take an afternoon, take
an hour a week – together we can help the
County save money – and perhaps reduce layoffs
in 2009. For more, see page 4, or go to the
County web page at:
https://mail.co.hennepin.mn.us/hcgca2fbb00209286ac125725
1aa9cf8/hcgc0/SecureMailPortalPortalHomePage/
June 2009
L 34 Banner – 06/2009
Issue Contents:
Page 2 – Local 34 Officers & Stewards,
“What is Just Cause?”
Page 3 – Contact List and Schedule,
Highlights from May GA Meeting and the
May HSPHD Meet & Confer
Page 4 – Voluntary Special Leave Without
Pay program, including impact on PERA
Page 5 – Good & Welfare Policy, New
Member-at-Large and Trustee Chosen,
Negotiations Update, Next Wave Attendees
Page 6 – Preparing for a Pandemic Flu,
HealthPartners’ 2008 Utilization Report
Page 7 – Shifting Medical Costs to
Workers, Insurance Lobby Seeks to
Undermine Obama Health Reform Plan,
Pawlenty Vetoes GAMC – Hospital Impact
Page 8 – Thank You Note, Hulteen Case on
Pregnancy Discrimination rules, Lay-offs –
Hit on Young Workers?, Council 5 Coverage
of Minnesota Capitol’s 2009 Spring: State
Workers Settle Contract, Need for Property
Tax Relief, Pawlenty Tax Bill Veto
Sustained, “wealthy Win, Workers Lose”
Page 9 – “King Tim of Minnesota”, EFCA
Update – Senate Looks for Compromise Bill
Page 10 – “View from the Cheap Seats”
Looks at the Republicans Who Support
Pawlenty’s GAMC Veto, New – Twin Cities
Labor Chorus Established, Unemployment
Lifeline – AFL-CIO Mobilization
Page 11 – VP Volkenant on “Empathy” and
the Souter Vacancy on the Supreme Court,
MAPE Offers a Plan to Help the State Cut
Costs and Raise Revenue
Page 12 – President Diederich’s Column
on International Labour Conference,
Voluntary SLWOP, Selecting the Master
Negotiations Committee, Rallying at the
Capitol in Support of the Tax Bill
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Note: Submissions for the July 2009 newsletter should be sent to the Editor by Monday, June 15. Submissions for the Aug. 2009 newsletter will be due by July 17.
Local 34 Officers & Stewards
President:
Jean Diederich
Vice Presidents:
Vicki Moore
Wesley Volkenant
Chief Stewards:
Cliff Robinson
Cathy Cowden
Recording Secretary:
Rita Salone
Treasurer:
Patrick Regan
Membership Secretary:
Kela Williams
Sergeant-At-Arms:
Chalmers Davis
Members-At-Large:
Andrea Lazo-Rice
Ibrahim Adam
Angel Alexander
Jacquelin Poole
Jacqueline Coleman
Randy Duncan
6/1/09
For Our Stewards and Members Who Need Assistance:
What is Just Cause?
348-0266 – 880
348-5939 – 140
348-9592 – 630
348-7542 – 961
543-0301 – L890
596-1003 – L890
348-8760 – L890
596-0954 – 630
521-3056 – N704
348-2249 – 959
348-2313 – 961
596-1863 – 630
348-4246 – 961
543-2605 – N706
"Just cause" is the guiding principle utilized by
public employers whenever they engage in some
form of corrective action or progressive discipline
for their employees. Supervisors are always
expected to have "just cause" when disciplining an employee. The
supervisor and employee will not always agree as to what
constitutes just cause, and a grievance may result. If the discipline
is to be effective, it must be administered in such a way as to
sustain a challenge if a grievance is filed and eventually appealed
to arbitration.
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/hr/hrdepts/labor_relations/just_cause.html
http://afscmemn.org/sites/afscmemn.org/files/Just%20Cause%20at%20a%20Glance.pdf
Stewards:
Zachary Rice
348-2274, Century Plaza 1
Ester Killion
596-7858, Century Plaza 1
Mara Hill
596-0947, Century Plaza 2
Miguel Salazar
596-7465, Century Plaza 2
Nancy Scarlotta
348-9452, Century Plaza 2
Fatuma Kassim
596-8457, Century Plaza 2
Halima Said
596-7465, Century Plaza 2
Jamoda Williams
596-8948, Century Plaza 4
Diane Fossen
543-2506, NorthPoint Dental
Shawnice Reid
543-2699, NorthPoint Medical
James Stevenson
596-9220, STS
Jim Edin
763-221-4443, STS
Phillip Gray
348-5771, Juvenile Justice Ctr
Terry Grace
348-7308, Juvenile Justice Ctr
Aboubker Ouassaddine 543-0373, Family Justice Ctr
Bob Velez
543-0323, Family Justice Ctr
Keyur Desai
348-3611, Family Justice Ctr
Susan Frame
348-0293, Govt Center A15
Brian Arneson
348-7641, Govt Center A16
Maureen Glover
348-4492, Govt Center A16
Carolyn Johnson
348-8586, Govt Center A16
Monica Jochmans
348-4192, HSB 5
Penny Wile
348-7133, HSB 9
Lynn Garrick
651-769-2305, MHP Telecommuter
Kristine Heckler
752-8332, Crystal Drop-in Ctr.
Elena Izaksonas
521-3056, 4th Precinct Station
Pamela Shones
763-413-3113, 1800 Chicago
Dennis Moore
879-3560, 1800 Chicago
Jeff Meyer
348-5880, 1800 Chicago
Martha Dille
596-0622,
Trustees
Audie Lussier, Osman Aweis, Ester Killion
Delta Dental Trustee
Monica Jochmans
Local 34 Banner
The last test, the degree of discipline, is important because arbitrators want to ensure that
the "punishment fits the crime." An employer's use of progressive discipline often gives the
employer an advantage in arbitration. Just cause can become controversial in instances
when the employers personnel policies do not address a specific act but the employer
believes that just cause exists. For example, if an employee is arrested and charged with a
misdemeanor, the employer may deem that sufficient cause for dismissal, even if the
employee is not incarcerated or is not convicted.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_cause"
June 2009
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Council 5 Business Representative:
Matt Nelson
651-287-0578
e-mail Matt at: matt.nelson@afscmemn.org
Council 5 Contact Information:
300 Hardman Avenue South,
South Saint Paul, Minnesota 55075-2469
(651) 450-4990 Fax: (651) 450-1908
To Contact the Newsletter Editor:
Call or e-mail—
Wesley Volkenant - 612-348-9592
Highlights from the May General Assembly—May 6, 2009
Officers attending were: Jean Diederich, Wes Volkenant, Ibrahim Adam, Chalmers Davis, Patrick
Regan, Rita Salone, Jacquelin Poole, Angel Alexander, Kela Williams, Jacqueline Coleman, Andrea
Lazo-Rice, Cathy Cowden and Cliff Robinson Excused Absence: Vicki Moore
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For Distribution concerns, contact:
Rhonda Griffin at 612-543-0353
Internet Web Site Developer:
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John Herzog – 952-492-5233
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UPCOMING LOCAL 34
MEETING SCHEDULE
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June
3rd General Assembly - HSB 110
17th E-Board - HSB 917
July
1st General Assembly - HSB 110
15th E-Board - HSB 917
June 2009
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
July 2009
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
Upcoming AFSCME Training
Basic Steward Training – Metro Office
June 24-25, 2009
Chief Steward Training – Metro Office
July 14, 2009
Secretary’s Training – Metro Office
July 8, 2009
Who We Are
AFSCME’s 1.6 million members provide the vital
services that make America happen. With
members in hundreds of different occupations —
from nurses to corrections officers, child care
providers to sanitation workers — AFSCME is
the voice of the dedicated workers who take care
of America, and is a leading advocate for all
working families.
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May 20 Meet and Confer topics included:
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Local 34 Banner
Thank you to Andrea Lazo-Rice and Chalmers Davis for organizing our semi-annual Local
34 buffet feast – this to honor our departing officers and to welcome our members and
newly-elected officers.
SLWOP discussion… please read SLWOP comments and articles on pages 1, 4 and 12 of
this newsletter issue. Our basic message is – if you can participate in this program, and
can afford to do it, please do so.
Joe Weston reported that Patrick Regan was re-elected Local 34 Treasurer over Osman
Aweis, who continues as a Local 34 trustee. All Local 34 officers present were sworn in
for the 2009-2010 term by Matt Nelson.
Negotiations Update: the Master Negotiations Committee will meet May 12 and June 2.
Bill Peters of Labor Relations has forecast a County shortfall of $50 million in both 2010
and 2011. Discussion followed of the types of issues that the Master Committee needs
to decide upon, before negotiations begin.
Keyur Desai was appointed a new Steward at the Family Justice Center, and a motion to
reappoint all of the stewards was approved.
Following attendance of Local 34 officers at the Local Union Leadership Academy in
Mankato, May 4-5, the Local approved a motion in support of the MAT process
(workplace mapping, to more quickly and readily locate the membership…)
GA elected Kela Williams, Mara Hill and Fatuma Kassim (who later withdrew) to
represent us at the Next Wave Conference in Chicago, June 19-21. A motion was
passed approving airfare for the delegates, and a motion was passed for President
Diederich to appoint a fourth delegate, if interest was shown. Note: At the May 20 EBoard, Sabrina Denson was elected to attend.
GA approved sending up to seven delegates to attend the International Labour
Conference, to be held in Bloomington, July 10-12, paying for $100 registration and
mileage. Delegates will be elected at the June General Assembly – see page 12.
GA approved a $135 full-page ad to run in the Alliance of the Streets Italian Dinner
program. We also approved the purchase of five $20 tickets to the May 19 dinner.
Members approved $50 memorial gifts in memory of Catherine Windels (mother of
former Local 34 Vice President Mary Kay Windels) and in memory of Matthew Marincel,
father of Council 5 Business Representative (Locals 2822, 552 and 2938), Steve
Marincel. Matthew was a former member of the Stage Hands union.
Discussion of May 7 NorthPoint meeting with new Local 34 dental hygienist members.
A motion to approve up to two hours’ Lost Time for Katie Farber to attend was approved.
We had no update on the status of our layed-off hygienists – Matt will meet with Bill
Peters to discuss the concern further.
GA approved up to 2 hours lost time for officers and stewards attending a May 8
meeting together at Century Plaza.
A group of 18 members were elected to serve on this year’s Master Negotiations
Committee – see President Diederich’s column on page 12.
Possible Meet & Confer concerns – blocking of web sites and staff reassignments were
discussed. John Herzog encouraged members to rally at the Capitol for “Invest in
Minnesota” – in support of social services budgeting. Wes Volkenant reminded the
room of the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive on Saturday, May 9. A flyer about the Fare for All
Express Program, out of the Labor Center at 312 Central Ave. NE was distributed.
Officer Reports and the Business Representative’s reports were received.
A Legislative impact update from HSPHD lobbyist, Kathy Lamp. Discussion focused on
the Governor’s veto of the $381 million GAMC program, the anticipated unallotment of
County program aid, the impacts on case management, services, MNET – Access
Transportation dollars, and long-term care changes.
HSPHD updated us on the budget and staffing. We still don’t see immediate need for
lay-offs, but the budget picture is far more dismal as a result of the Governor’s expected
vetos. Directors are budgeting at just 96% of the existing Property Tax allocation, and
the County could face up to a $50-55 million aid loss (HSPHD itself would face a $10
million – up to nearly $20 million loss – but this would be partially offset by federal
stimulus dollars in Child Support and a rescinding of Child Welfare TCM rules).
Discussion of the SLWOP program, and a request for more clarifications to staff.
June 2009
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New to the County?
Just transferred into Local 34?
To sign up as a union member or to get
answers to questions about AFSCME and
membership benefits, please complete this
form and send it to:
Katie Farber, Membership Secretary
FJC – mail code L890 – 612-543-0306
Name _______________________________
Job Title
_____________________________________
Work Location
_____________________________________
Mail Code _________
Phone _________________
I’m especially interested:
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I want to sign up as a member
I want to sign up for Delta Dental
To receive Delta Dental Insurance information:
contact Cindy Pince at Council 5– 651-287-0564
Are you interested in setting the Local 34 website as
your Microsoft Explorer home page? If so, go to the
website address listed on the front page. Click on
“Tools” in the menu bar at the top of your page. Select
“Internet Options.” Under the “General” tab, find the
option for Home Page, and copy the Local 34 address
there. The next time you bring up your Internet
connection, the website will be your new Home Page.
Do You Have Friends Who Would Like
to Receive Our Newsletter?
There is now a quick and simple way for you to
become informed on a wide variety of issues
concerning AFSCME Local 34. Just sign yourself up
for our free on-line newsletter! Please follow the
directions below…
 Send an e-mail to the following address:
cwvolkenant@msn.com
 In the Subject Line or Text, state “Subscribe to 34
Newsletter”, identify who you are, and send it off.
 You will receive a confirmation e-mail within a week;
Voluntary Special Leave Without Pay - 2009 Budget Savings Plan
https://mail.co.hennepin.mn.us/hcgca2fbb00209286ac1257251aa9cf8/hcgc0/SecureMailPortalPortalHomePage/
General Information
Background
To achieve budget savings and meet the budget reduction target of $20 million during
2009, the County Board of Commissioners, by Resolution No. 09-0171R1, strongly
encourages all represented and non-represented employees to use the special leave
without pay program (SLWOP) during 2009 with a goal of using 32 hours on average for
every employee.
Benefits to Employees
1. Vacation/PTO and sick leave benefits continue to accrue as if the employee were
at work.
2. Stability pay eligibility and seniority also continue to accrue.
3. The county will continue its regular contribution to health and/or basic life
insurance for one month, if an employee uses 160 hours of SLWOP at one time. If
hours are taken in increments, these benefits continue to accrue as if the
employee were at work.
4. Employees may use up to 160 hours of special leave annually.
5. Employees may request special leave in increments ranging from one hour to 160
hours to achieve budget savings.
Pension Eligibility Impact
 PERA grants service credit for a full month, even when using unpaid leave,
provided that the employee has some paid time in the month (even one hour).
 Employee payment of PERA contributions for unpaid leave can be made at year
end.
 The County will pay the employer PERA contribution if and when the employee
contribution is made.
 At year end, Human Resources will confirm hours used for employees who used
SLWOP during 2009.
 PERA impact will be minimal for employees who are not in their last five years of
service before retirement.
 Additional information regarding PERA is available by clicking on the link below or
by contacting PERA directly.
Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP) Impact on PERA
If you use SLWOP for the 2009 Budget Savings Plan and you are wondering about its
impact on your PERA pension, you should ask yourself two things.
1. Are you are within five years of the date you plan to retire (whether based on
meeting PERA’s Rule of 90 or not)?
2. Should you pay your ‘make-up’ contributions to PERA for the time you use SLWOP?
If you are within five years of the date you plan to retire (whether under Rule of 90 or
not), taking SLWOP will reduce your earnings which, in turn, will reduce your monthly
pension amount. According to PERA, the reduction in your pension may be insignificant.
This will depend on your particular circumstances – whether you are within five years of
retirement, your age at retirement, and your years of PERA-covered employment.
you should have the latest issue attached, so you
can determine if you will be able to receive – and
read – the e-mail newsletter attachments.
If you are within five years of retirement (presumably earning your ‘high-five’ salary), you
may wish to consider paying your ‘make-up’ contributions to PERA.
If you do submit ‘make-up’ employee contributions to PERA:
Note: if at any time you want to stop receiving these
updates, all you have to do is send an e-mail to the
address listed above, state “Unsubscribe” in the
Subject Line or Text, and your name will be removed
from our list. For Netscape users, you may need to
 Hennepin County will submit its employer contributions to PERA.
 Your months of PERA service will remain unchanged because, if your employee
contributions and the County’s contributions are made in any month and in any
amount, you have PERA service credit for that full month.
Your monthly pension will reflect your full salary. How to estimate your ‘make-up’
contributions: Multiply the amount of salary reduced by your PERA contribution rate
(e.g., Coordinated members pay 6.0%).
press “Reload” to get the most version. You can also
access us from our Local 34 Website at:
http://www.afscmelocal34.org
Local 34 Banner
June 2009
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Good and Welfare
The Good and Welfare Committee was
established to send remembrances to dues
paying members at times of happiness or
sorrow. This includes marriages, the birth or
adoption of a child, prolonged illness or
hospitalization, or the death of a member,
immediate family member or significant other
– as defined in the Contract.
In the case of surgery or prolonged illness,
or for the birth or adoption of a child,
flowers or plants can be sent to a member.
In situations involving the death of a
member or a death in the family of a
member, memorials can be sent. (“Family” is
defined the same as in Article 16 – Funeral
Leave – in our contract; it includes:
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spouse,
child,
significant other,
aunt/uncle,
father/mother,
sister/brother,
grandparent/grandparent-in-law,
grandchildren,
niece/nephew, or
a person regarded as a member of the
member’s immediate family).
In the event of members getting married,
retiring, gaining U.S. citizenship, or for a
death in the family of a member or in the
case of the death of a member, a card can
be sent to the family.
Please send all requests for remembrances
to the co-Chairs for the Good and Welfare
Committee - Lisa Durkot (MC 965) or Merry
Brigham (MC L890). The referrals must
include the name of the member and the
reason for your request. If the request is for
a plant or flowers, you will also need to
include the person’s home phone number for
delivery purposes.
Local 34 – New Faces or New Places….
At the E-Board meeting of May 20, Randy Duncan, who is located at 1800
Chicago, as part of HSPHD, was elected to fill the vacant Member-at-Large
position, as of June 1. Congratulations, Randy!
Steward Ester Killion, from Century Plaza, put her name forward to fill the
vacant Local 34 Trustee position, filling a three-year term last held by Jim
Evans. Sister Killion will vacate her Steward position and assume the Trustee
role as of June 1. Thank you Ester, for assuming this important job!
How to Make Money Work Better
Tired of hearing that government services are a drain on the economy? Moody’s
Economy.com says it ain’t so.
Moody’s calculated how much “bang for the buck” different economic stimulus
provides. The short answer: Investments in public services deliver far higher
returns than tax cuts.
Here’s how much we get back for every $1.00 invested:
• Infrastructure spending: $1.59
• Money to help state governments preserve public services: $1.38
• Making Bush-era tax cuts on dividends and capital gains permanent: $0.38
• Making Bush-era tax cuts on income permanent: $0.31
• Cutting corporate taxes: $0.30
Negotiations Update
Members of the Local 34 Master Negotiations Committee were chosen by
the General Membership on Wednesday, May 6. Many of the Committee
members met for the first time on Tuesday, May 12, and will meet again,
Tuesday, June 2. A Table Talk is scheduled to be issued shortly updating
members about the 2009 negotiations. AFSCME will be entering into
Negotiations with the County, as the County has already sent us their
intent.
Some have asked why we simply didn’t leave the existing contract in place.
There are two important reasons against doing so: 1) several Hennepin
Locals have important contract language that would “sunset” or expire at
the end of 2009 without negotiated continuations, and 2) employees – not
the Employer – would absorb the full amount of 2010’s expected 9.5%
health insurance increases (the County’s actual increased expenses).
Sign Up for the PEOPLE Fund
The AFSCME People Fund is AFSCME’s
political action fund, and is used to support our
endorsed candidates. If many members
voluntarily pledge as little as $2.00 a payroll
period, our ability to get our endorsed
candidates elected will be greatly enhanced. At
$4.00 per pay period, a contributor receives an
AFSCME green jacket. Please contact Jean
Diederich at 348-0266 to sign up now!
Local 34 Banner
The Next Wave is Coming
AFSCME will hold a National Next Wave Conference June 19-21 in Chicago. The
event is intended especially for members on the young side of 35.
The goal: to create ways for the next generation to start shaping the future of
AFSCME. Local 34 elected Kela Williams, Mara Hill and Fatuma Kassim to
represent us in Chicago. Sister Kassim later respectfully withdrew her name. At
the May 20 E-Board meeting, Sabrina Denson was selected to attend.
June 2009
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Health Care & Insurance News
How to Prepare Your Workplace for a
Possible Flu Pandemic
http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/articles/18925/1/How-toprepare-your-workplace-for-a-possible-flu-pandemic/Page1.html#
Regardless of how the swine flu crisis plays out, it should
be a wake-up call for employers. It’s difficult to respond to
a crisis while it’s occurring. That’s why developing a
pandemic plan is so important. Almost every employer
can anticipate some common problems. HR must
be ready to play a role in addressing each of the
following:
• Attendance could nosedive. Some employees may
be unable to work because they are sick. Others may
stay away from work because they fear becoming
infected.
• The workplace might become contagious. Ill
employees may insist on coming to work even if they
should stay home.
• Alternative work arrangements might be needed.
You might need to consider having employees work
remotely if authorities impose quarantines or employees
refuse to or cannot come to your facilities. If you don’t
already, consider cross-training employees to perform
critical functions.
• Some employees may refuse to perform some of
their regular duties because they fear being exposed to
the flu. Those who travel frequently or attend large
meetings may balk.
• Some employees may not seek health care for
financial reasons or out of fear of contracting the flu at the
doctor’s office.
• Employees may need personal assistance. It might
involve finding care for a sick relative. They may need
help obtaining food, water or cash during a quarantine.
• Employees may be unable to focus on work—or not
work at all—due to the emotional fallout of a pandemic.
They may need time off, counseling or other assistance.
Employers are legally obligated to provide a safe
workplace. In the face of a pandemic, you may be liable if
your infected employees spread the disease.
An employer’s best defense will originate in the
prevention and response measures included in the
pandemic plan. It should include:
 A communicable disease policy. Emphasize that
employees with flu symptoms must not come to work.
 Employee education on how to prevent spreading
the flu. Good hygiene is the key. Remind employees
to cover their mouths and noses when they cough or
sneeze. Throw out used tissues immediately. Wash
hands frequently, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Tell them to avoid touching their eyes, nose and
mouth.
 Other measures to prevent the spread of disease at
work. Employers can reduce the risk of workplace
infection by providing air ventilation and purifying
systems, restricting travel and implementing remote or
other work arrangements to reduce personal contact.
Local 34 Banner
Results from the HealthPartners’ 2008 Utilization Report
 In 2008, there was an increase in Hennepin County’s premiums and its claims.
The County premium rose from $79.4 million in 2007 to $88.9 million in 2008,
but County claims rose from $73.4 million to $80.1 million at the same time. The
Claim/Loss ratio did decrease from 92 to 90%.
 The County contributed 78.2% of the 2008 premium (21.8% by employees).
 In 2008, there were over 15,500 County participants – 14,472 active employees
and dependents, 1095 early retirees and 227 on COBRA.
 There were 238 dependents dropped in the 2009 Dependent Audit.
 In 2008, nearly 70% of Hennepin participants were on Single coverage, just under
20% were on Family coverage, and about 6-8% each was on Single + Spouse or
Single + Children coverage. 56.5% of the participants are female and 57% of the
participants were employees (vs. 43% dependents).
 Female Adults make up about 46% of the 2008 claims vs. 33% from Adult Males
and 21% from Children.
 We continue to age… about 13% of participants were aged 55-59 in 2008; the
next largest groups at 11% each were 50-54 and 60-64. Including 10% aged 4549, about 47% of the participants were aged 45 or older.
 The greatest amounts of claims in Hennepin County go to “Professionals” –
physicians – at $32million. We put in claims of $15-16.2 million each for
Pharmacy, Hospital Outpatient and Hospital Inpatient expenses. The lowest
expenses claimed were for Preventative/Accidental Dental and other expenses,
including transportation costs.
 Catastrophic claims ($25,000+) made up over 46% of the 2008 claims; there
were 51 claims exceeding $100,000 (11%)
 Nearly 78% of all claims were made in Tier 1 (which is good, although
HealthPartners is looking for 85%), and less than 1% of claims were “Out of
Network.”
 Our top 10 providers in 2008, based on percent of care episodes were:
HealthPartners Medical Clinics, Park Nicollet Health Services, Hennepin Faculty
Associates, Fairview Hospitals, Allina Health System and Allina Medical Clinics,
North Memorial Health Care, Regions Hospital, Chiropractic Care of Minnesota,
and Fairview Clinics.
 Generic usage was up to 19% of claims in 2008 (vs. 15% in 2007). The most
commonly used categories of medications in Hennepin County in 2008 were:
antidepressants, antiasthmatic & bronchodilator agents, antihyperlipdemics,
antivirals, and anticonvulsants. The top drugs we use – by volume – were:
Simvastatin, Lisinopril, Atenolol, and Lipitor. Lipitor was far-and-away the
costliest drug, followed by Effexor, Enbrel, and Advair. The County and
HealthPartners want to encourage greater use of mail order vs. window pick-ups
(in 2008, only 17% were by mail order).
 The key medical practices serving Hennepin County in 2008 were:
Orthopedics/Rheumatology, Cardiology, Psychiatry and Endocrinology. Our most
prevalent conditions and risk areas were: Depression, Asthma, Diabetes, and
Heart Disease.
 An important HP recommendation for 2009-2010 is to participate in HP’s Half-
Tablet Advantage and Healthy Benefits program (which requires completing one
health & wellness program with an assessment).
June 2009
-6-
Pawlenty Offers Bankruptcy
Medical Care Fees Shift to Workers
By CHEN MAY YEE, Star Tribune Last update: May 18, 2009
Americans with employer-sponsored health insurance
can expect to pay a bigger share of health care costs
this year than ever before -- 41 percent, up from 38
percent in 2006, according to a major national study.
For a typical family of four, that will come to nearly
$7,000 this year.
Total medical costs for such a family in 2009 are
expected to hit $16,771, up 7.4 percent from last year.
This year, employers are expected to pay $9,947 of
that, with employees picking up $4,004 through their
share of health plan premiums and another $2,820
through out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays and
deductibles. In Minneapolis, a family can expect to use
$17,374 worth of medical care, 3.6 percent more than
the national average, the survey found.
Employees shouldn't expect the cost-shifting to let up.
As the recession continues to hurt business revenue,
employers will ask employees to take on a bigger
share of medical costs, said Kate Fitch, a consultant
with Milliman, a Seattle-based actuarial firm that
produced the report. "The burden for the employee
may be reaching a breaking point," Fitch said.
The report looked at employer-sponsored traditional
insurance
plans
called
preferred-provider
organizations, which cover the majority of
commercially insured workers. It did not include the
small but fast-growing category of high-deductible
plans with health savings accounts, where workers
take on an even bigger share of risk.
One piece of good news is that consumption of
medical services is expected to be flat this year for the
first time in the survey's history. Fitch attributed that
slowdown to disease-management and wellness
programs that keep people out of the hospital, as well
as efforts to cut down on hospital infections and
unnecessary high-tech imaging, moves that fall under
the umbrella of quality. However, per unit costs of
medical care are up. Hospital outpatient care showed
the highest growth this year. Many procedures that
used to be inpatient can now be done on an outpatient
basis because of new technology.
Milliman studied 14 metropolitan areas, including
Minneapolis, and found wide variation in medical
costs. Miami had the dubious honor of coming up tops,
with the typical family expected to rack up $20,282 in
medical bills this year, 22 percent above the national
average. At the other end was Phoenix, where a family
can expect to incur $14,857, 11 percent below the
national average. Milliman researchers analyzed the
health insurance claims of more than 20 million
people. The report does not include administrative
costs for health plans.
http://www.startribune.com/business/45365697.html?page=2&c=y
http://ww2.startribune.com/user_comments/comments.php?d=asset_com
ments&asset_id=45365697&section=/business
Local 34 Banner
by: Grace Kelly Sat May 16, 2009
http://www.mncampaignreport.com/diary/3230/pawlenty-offers-bankruptcy
http://www.mncampaignreport.com/diary/3233/heh-pawlenty-people-die-without-health-care
http://www.mncampaignreport.com/diary/3234/pawlenty-with-hospitals-gone-even-the-wealthy-suffer
Governor Tim Pawlenty followed through on his pledge to rein in state spending with
or without the legislature. He used a line-item veto to surgically remove $381 million
from a health plan for low income adults without children. The cuts to General
Assistance Medical Care, or G.A.M.C., will take effect in July of 2010, according to
Human Services Commissioner Cal Ludeman, and strip eligibility from 30,000
persons. He told lawmakers those persons must earn less than $7,800 per year to
qualify for the program.... The Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
issued a joint statement with the Saint Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America protesting the governor's selective veto. "We are saddened to see
that health care for thousands of our poorest and most vulnerable neighbors is
endangered in the last days of our state's budget negotiations."
Governor Pawlenty talked about "tightening our belts" when announcing his plan to
balance the budget by cutting health care services. He talked of "controlling" costs and
"unsustainable" increases. Well, these are unusual economic times, when the newly
unemployed increase the need for health care services. And this is not "tightening the belt",
this life and death health care. For example, a diabetic cannot live with insulin. Not only is
the governor cutting the general fund contribution to health care for those who cannot get
health care any other way, but Governor Pawlenty has been taking the dedicated funds for
that purpose to spend elsewhere!
Pawlenty has already vetoed the health care budget in a way the forces people choose
between health care and bankruptcy. It is the most morally wrong decision that a governor
could make. A study published in the policy journal Health Affairs found that approximately
half of people in the US who file for bankruptcy cite medical costs as a significant reason
for their financial troubles.
Since Governor Pawlenty doesn’t seem to care about ordinary people, then perhaps this
message will get through: "Without hospitals even the wealthy will suffer!" This last veto
hits hospitals very hard, including HCMC, which provides critical emergency care! Wealth
will not matter when there very few hospitals left very far away handling many critical
patients. And now there will be even less capacity to handle a truly deadly flu pandemic,
which also would devastate poor and wealthy alike.
Insurance Lobby Prepares To Smear Key Element of
Obama’s Health Reform
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/19/bcbs-smears-obama-publicpla/
Recently health insurance lobbyists met with President Obama and pledged to “work together” to
provide quality, affordable coverage and access for every American. In less than five days, the
insurers not only broke that promise, but the Washington Post reports that Blue Cross Blue Shield
of North Carolina has drafted ads aimed at smearing the President’s proposed public health
insurance plan. Rather than being an honest partner in the debate on health reform, the health
insurance industry appears to be launching a campaign of misinformation aimed at sinking any
serious prospect for change.
The leader of the trade group representing the health insurance lobby, Karen Ignagni, made
headlines earlier this year when she promised to the President, “you have our commitment, to
play, to contribute and to pass health care reform this year.” The strategy is stunningly reminiscent
of the last attempt to reform the system in 1993, when the insurance industry made a public
relations push to appear to be on the side of reform at the outset of the debate in 1992/1993, but
then quickly reversed course and fought bitterly to kill health reform.
Not only is the health industry operating from the same playbook from 1993, it’s being run by
largely the same characters. Frank Luntz, who helped guide Republican efforts to defeat Clinton’s
health plan, is currently being paid by health insurance companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield,
while also advising Congressional Republicans on what type of language to use to defeat health
care reform. Notably, Luntz, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and groups like Conservatives for Patients’
Rights are all attacking a public health care option with the debunked notion of “rationed care.”
But of course, Obama’s health care plan option is just that, optional. If Americans prefer having
insurance companies determine their treatments and costs, no one is forcing them to change.
Opponents of reform would prefer to have a monopoly over health care, because the status quo is
still quite profitable.
June 2009
-7-
Labor Unions, Labor News, Political & Legal Information
Good & Welfare: Thank You Note
How AFSCME Council 5 Followed Fortunes & Misfortunes at the Capitol this Spring…
Dear Local 34 Members,
We are truly touched by your thoughtfulness in
making a donation in memory of our mother, Lillie
Simon. My mother spent a lifetime volunteering her
efforts to Hadassah. Thanks for thinking of us
during this time.
In Solidarity,
Laurie & David Simon
AFSCME and the state reached a tentative contract agreement for 19,000 state employees on
April 22. It includes no furloughs, no wage cuts, a step increase, no changes in health benefits,
and a premium increase that is more than offset by a $125 contribution to each employee’s
benefit card. The agreement is also designed to mitigate layoffs by keeping money in agency
budgets. Members will vote on the contract June 15-19.
The Curse of Youth?
The Wall Street Journal had an article on the difficulties
that younger workers are facing in the current economic
environment. According to the article, employers are
wary of letting go of more senior employees because
of age-discrimination suits and have increasingly used a
"last in, first out" rule for layoffs.
I don't doubt the observations of cited attorneys who have
observed this trend, but I do wonder whether it's really a
big change. Seniority-based layoffs are certainly not
unusual--what's different now is that there's a lot more
layoffs. So, what may be going on
may be simply more layoffs, which
always tend to hurt younger
workers more.
Indeed, statistics used to support
the notion that younger workers are
bearing a disproportionate burden
of layoffs doesn't seem to show
much of an extra burden. According to the article, "The
unemployment rate for those between the ages of 25 and
34 was 9.6% in April 2009, up from 4.9% a year earlier.
For those ages 55 and older, the unemployment rate was
6.2% in April 2009, compared with 3.3% a year earlier."
Basically, both groups saw slightly less than a doubling of
their unemployment rate, which doesn't indicate to me an
extra burden on younger workers. – Jeffrey Hirsch
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/laborprof_blog/2009/05/the-curse-ofyouth.html#comments
The Supreme Court Decision in Hulteen
The Supreme Court has announced its decision in AT&T
v. Hulteen, which involved service credit for pregnancy
leave and its effect on retirement
benefits. The Court, in a 7-2 decision
(Ginsburg and Breyer, dissenting),
held that the employer did not violate
Title VII by giving less credit for
pregnancy leave, based on a pre-Pregnancy
Discrimination Act rule.
The majority's decision boils down to two main points.
The first point is that before the effective date of the
Pregnancy Discrimination Act, discrimination on the basis
of pregnancy was not discrimination on the basis of sex
under Title VII. The second main point in the majority's
reasoning was that the seniority rules applied to the
plaintiffs at the time that the leave was taken rather than
when they retired.
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/laborprof_blog/2009/05/the-supremecourt-decision-in-hulteen.html#comments
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/laborprof_blog/2009/05/thoughts-on-attv-hulteen.html#comments
Local 34 Banner
Furloughs and Wage Cuts Killed
Submitted by AFSCME Council 5 on April 22, 2009
http://afscmemn.org/furloughs-and-wage-cuts-killed
Homeowners Need Property Tax Relief
Homeowners recently gathered in Richfield to voice their concerns about rising property taxes.
As a result of reduced state aid, property taxpayers across the
state have seen their taxes jump 65 percent over the past six
years. During the same time period, local governments have
actually spent less on city services such as parks, libraries, police
and fire protection. How can this be? Total city and town revenue,
which includes property tax payments and state aid, has
significantly decreased since 2002, in large part due to years of
underfunding property tax relief programs like Local Government Aid (LGA). Even the large
property tax increases haven’t been enough to recover lost LGA, and in the end, this means
property taxpayers are paying more and getting less in return.
Submitted by AFSCME Council 5 on May 11, 2009 http://afscmemn.org/homeowners-need-property-tax-relief
Overrides Fail
AFSCME greeted legislators on Sunday with loud chants of “override.” But the House failed to
override two of Gov. Pawlenty’s vetoes – on health care and on a $1 billion tax plan. The
consequences will be severe for AFSCME members, especially those employed by hospitals
and nursing homes. Two turncoat Democrats – Reps. Gene Pelowski of Winona and Jeanne
Poppe of Austin – sided with 47 Republicans to defeat the effort to override the governor’s
veto of the tax bill. The vetoed bill would have raised $1 billion in taxes from wealthy
Minnesotans, liquor sales and credit card companies. Instead of respecting the democratic
process, Gov. Pawlenty is preparing to unilaterally erase the multi-billion deficit on his own.
On a party-line vote of 87-47, Republicans stopped Democrats from restoring Gov. Pawlenty’s
cuts to medical services for 30,000 poor, indigent and homeless people. This cut means
people could die and thousands will be frightened away from seeking care. Some hospitals
that employ AFSCME members may be forced to close without state-funded reimbursement
for treating patients who can’t pay.
Worst case, hospitals could lose 20.5 percent of their annual Medical Assistance payments:
 Hennepin County Medical Center could lose $67.4 million
 Fairview University could lose $44.4 million
 Regions could lose $29.2 million
Phase two of Pawlenty’s health care cuts will kick 113,000 more adults off health insurance in
2011. All of this is part of the governor’s plan to balance the budget while still protecting
income tax cuts for upper-income earners.
Submitted by AFSCME Council 5 on May 18, 2009 http://afscmemn.org/overrides-fail
SESSION OVER: WEALTHY WIN, WORKERS LOSE
The legislature adjourned Monday at midnight and there are winners and losers. Gov. Pawlenty
protected the wealthy and punished working families. He chose stubbornness over
compromise and presidential ambition over the people of Minnesota. He could have saved
vital public services by making taxes fair. Instead he chose to balance the budget on his own
with cuts alone. His cuts could mean the loss of at least 3,400 public sector jobs.
AFSCME Council 5 estimates at least 3,400 public sector jobs could be lost as a result of Gov.
Pawlenty’s $2.7 billion of budget cuts. That includes 1,100 state jobs, 1,000 MnSCU jobs, and
at least 1,300 city, county and school district jobs.
Winners: Wealthy Minnesotans and Credit Card companies
Losers: Caregivers, Homeowners, Parents
Submitted by AFSCME Council 5 on May 19, 2009 http://afscmemn.org/session-over%3A-wealthy-win%2C-workers-lose
June 2009
-8-
“King Tim of
Minnesota”
Penned by
AFSCME Local 2181 member,
Russ Scheidler
Below: Russ and the gang at the Capitol, May 17th. You can
listen to Russ’s polka version of “King Tim” at this AFSCME link:
http://afscmemn.org/%2526quot%3Bking-tim%2526quot%3B
Chorus:
King Tim of Minnesota
Doesn’t care about democracy
King Tim of Minnesota
He wants to be the President, you see.
Verse 1:
So, he acts like a little bully
It’s my way or the highway, says King Tim
He will not count your vote fully
Unless you vote GOP with him.
Chorus:
King Tim of Minnesota
Doesn’t care about democracy
King Tim of Minnesota
He wants to be the President, you see.
Verse 2:
He insists on “No New Taxes”
He’ll create new jobs by laying people off
He will kill your health and welfare
And the blood on his hands won’t wash off.
Chorus:
King Tim of Minnesota
Doesn’t care about democracy
King Tim of Minnesota
He wants to be the President you see.
Verse 3:
If you are a proud homeowner
You will pay for all Tim’s Budget Bill
He decided corporations get a free ride
Under Tim, the rich will never pay their fill.
Chorus:
King Tim of Minnesota
Doesn’t care about democracy
King Tim of Minnesota
He wants to be the President you see.
Local 34 Banner
Card Check and Gut Check {Employee Free Choice Act Compromise?}
Harold Meyerson - May 18, 2009
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090518/OPINION16/90514040/1004/OPINION/Card+check+and+gut+check
If our nation was governed by business’s version of democratic choice, we would hold
elections to determine the winner, but nearly half the time the incumbent would remain in
power even if he lost. In its campaign to derail the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA),
business has fearlessly depicted itself as the defender of elections and the secret ballot as
well as the foe of the dread “card check” — the process, championed by unions and included
within EFCA, that would allow workers to sign union affiliation cards rather than compelling
them to go through a ratification election in which harassment and firings of workers are all
too common. But the kind of democratic choice that business favors is choice without
consequence — a position made clear by its opposition to the other key component of EFCA:
binding arbitration between company and union if they’ve been unable to agree on a
contract within 120 days of a union winning the election.
A study of first-contract negotiations by John-Paul Ferguson and Thomas A. Kochan of MIT’s
Sloan School of Management makes clear why such arbitration is needed. After surveying
22,000 unionization campaigns between 1999 and 2004, the authors found that even after
a majority of workers voted for a union, they actually reached a contractual agreement with
management (which is currently under no legal obligation to come to an agreement) only 56
percent of the time.
Heads, management wins. Tails, the employees lose.
It’s a lovely system for businesses that don’t want to pay higher wages or accord their
workers some rights, and they’ve been fighting hard to keep it that way. They’ve managed
for now to cow some cowable Democratic senators, which is why Iowa Democrat Tom
Harkin, who is trying to steer EFCA through the Senate, is negotiating with a number of his
colleagues. “It’s a moving target,” Harkin says. That it’s moving at all is the result of Arlen
Specter’s hop from Republican to Democratic ranks, which has compelled Specter to look to
his left instead of his right to see where his next opponent is coming from. Just as the threat
of defeat in next year’s Republican primary concentrated Specter’s mind and sped him out
of the GOP, so the threat of a union-backed opponent in the Democratic primary — spurred
by Democrats’ anger at Specter’s post-conversion opposition to the president’s budget and
his opposition to card check — has prodded Specter to find some middle ground on
reforming labor law.
Labor, Harkin and his fellow liberals are willing to make changes to EFCA to win the support
of their Democratic colleagues, so long as those changes don’t perpetuate management’s
ability to avoid unionization by threatening workers and refusing to negotiate contracts.
Accordingly, the scramble is under way for modifications to card check and binding
arbitration that still meet labor’s goals. Rather than give the arbitrator the right to impose a
contract, some senators have expressed interest in a form of arbitration used in baseball to
settle contract disputes. In a baseball arbitration, the union and management submit their
proposed contracts to the arbitrator, who tries to get them to narrow their differences, asks
for their final offers and chooses the one he finds more reasonable.
Among the suggested alternatives to card check are proposals to shorten the currently
open-ended period between the request for election and the actual vote (today,
management can stall a vote almost indefinitely) and to allow workers to vote by mailing
their ballots to the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, which (like absentee
voting) would preserve the secret ballot but enable workers to escape the regimen of threats
they often encounter in the weeks preceding an election. If, after all the negotiations, Harkin
and the unions conclude that the only bill that’s enactable in this congressional session is
too watered down to protect workers trying to unionize, they would, understandably enough,
not want it to go forward. In that case, why don’t the Democrats just put the original bill —
card check, binding arbitration and all — to a vote and see which of their members choose
to go on record against protecting those workers? If Specter and his fellow waverers wish to
avoid that vote and the wrath it would incur among their onetime union backers, they’d do
well to support the alternative provisions that restore Americans’ rights in the workplace.
More News Updates on EFCA:
 http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/laborprof_blog/2009/05/more-signs-of-an-impending-efcacompromise.html#comments
 http://www.workforce.com/section/00/article/26/41/67.php
 http://www.workforce.com/section/00/article/26/42/40.php
 http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0509/Labor_presses_Specter_on_EFCA.html
June 2009
-9-
Unemployment LifeLine
The figures are staggering. Unemployment at 8.5
percent. More than 600,000 people filing
unemployment claims a week. And only 37 percent
of unemployed workers collecting unemployment
benefits.
Eye-popping as those numbers may be, they are
just numbers. The real stories are the individual
ones. For every 600,000 people who file for
unemployment every week, there are 600,000
unique stories. Hardworking people, struggling to
get by. And too often, they don't know where to turn
for help.
We've created the Unemployment LifeLine
(http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/17qM_M71fuVu/). It's
a one-stop online guide that links workers to local
resources, from unemployment offices to veterans'
services to child care. It also offers the opportunity
to talk to others and share support and lessons
learned.
Check out the Unemployment LifeLine today
(http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/17qM_M71fuVu/) and
pass it along to family and friends who may need
the help.
We're not stopping there, though. Today's jobless
workers need help now, and the Unemployment
LifeLine is there to connect them with what they
need. But if things are going to get better for all
workers, we need to join together to push for more
jobs, better jobs and a stronger economy. The
Unemployment
LifeLine
offers
regular
opportunities for action, empowering unemployed
workers to make America's economy work for all.
The AFL-CIO, along with Working America, the
Working America Education Fund and the AFLCIO's Community Services staff, put this site
together. With your help, it can keep growing. If you
know of a resource that isn't on the site, we want to
know about it, to spread the word further.
VIEW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS
Vicki Moore, Local 34 Vice President
First Lady Michelle Obama gave her first commencement speech this weekend at
University of California, Merced. Merced is very much like Minnesota in that it was
built by many immigrants seeking a better life through their hard work. Mrs.
Obama said, “So, whenever you get ready to give up, think about all of these
people and remember you are blessed. Remember that in exchange for those
blessings, you must give something back. You must reach back and pull someone
up. You must bend down and let someone else stand on your shoulders so that
they can see a brighter future.”
On the very same weekend, 49 Minnesotans who have the privilege of
representing others were unwilling to bend down to pull someone else up or to let
35,000 less fortunate Minnesotans stand of their shoulders. They were unwilling
to talk to the citizens who came to them to talk to them. They were even unwilling
to look citizens in the eye.
They are:
Jim Abeler (48B)
Sarah Anderson (43A)
Mark Buesgens (35B)
Matt Dean (52B)
Connie Doepke (33B)
Rob Eastlund (17A)
Steve Gottwalt (15A)
Rod Hamilton (22B)
Larry Howes (04B)
Paul Kohls (34A)
Tara Mack (37A)
Denny McNamara (57B)
Gene Pelowski Jr. (31A)
Tim Sanders (51A)
Dan Severson (14A)
Paul Torkelson (21B)
Kurt Zellers (32B)
Bruce Anderson (19A)
Michael Beard (35A)
Tony Cornish (24B)
Randy Demmer (29A)
Keith Downey (41A)
Tom Emmer (19B)
Bob Gunther (24A)
Mary Liz Holberg (36A)
Tim Kelly (28A)
Morrie Lanning (09A)
Doug Magnus (22A)
Mark Murdock (10B)
Joyce Peppin (32A)
Peggy Scott (49A)
Ron Shimanski (18A)
Dean Urdahl (18B)
Paul Anderson (13A)
Laura Brod (25A)
Greg Davids (31B)
Bob Dettmer (52A)
Steve Drazkowski (28B)
Pat Garofalo (36B)
Tom Hackbarth (48A)
Joe Hoppe (34B)
Mary Kiffmeyer (16B)
Jenifer Loon (42B)
Carol McFarlane (53B)
Bud Nornes (10A)
Jeanne Poppe (27B)
Marty Seifert (21A)
Steve Smith (33A)
Torrey Westrom (11A)
I am asking three things of you:
1) Remember one of these names;
2) Remember Elections Matter;
3) Carry a copy of First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech with you so that if you get
disheartened, you will have something and someone inspiring with you.
And that’s the View from the Cheap Seats for this month.
Twin Cities Labor Chorus
Workday Minnesota, May 3, 2009
But most importantly, tell your unemployed (and
underemployed) friends and family members about
the Unemployment LifeLine. No one should be
without the help they need, and no one should feel
alone in a difficult time.
In solidarity,
Marc Laitin
AFL-CIO Online Mobilization Coordinator
The “Untold Stories” series continued May 7, with poet Mark Nowak reading from
his new collection, Coal Mountain Elementary, and the Twin Cities Labor Chorus
conducting its premiere performance. After Nowak’s reading, the Labor Chorus
presented labor songs in honor of the 100 th anniversary of the “Little Red
Songbook” and held a sing-along.
AFSCME Council 5’s Michael Kuchta is part of the group, and should be contacted
if you’re interested in singing with the Chorus. Local 34 voted to send $100 in
support of the Twin Cities Labor Chorus.
http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4027
Local 34 Banner
June 2009
-10-
State Union’s Got a Plan to Help Fix MN’s
Budget Deficit, Too
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2009/05/05/8581/state_union%E2%80%99s_g
ot_a_plan_to_help_fix_minnesota%E2%80%99s_budget_deficit_too
There’s a Republican solution to the state’s budget deficit.
There’s a DFL solution. And now, there’s a union
solution. Jim Monroe, executive director of the nearly
12,000-member Minnesota Association of Professional
Employees (MAPE), said at a news conference that the
union has come up with $350 million in savings for the
state over the biennium. The MAPE bargaining unit
represents a wide range of state workers who provide
specialized services in everything from accounting to
transportation operations. Monroe added that Gov. Tim
Pawlenty’s staff has not been impressed by MAPE’s efforts
to help close the $4.6 billion deficit.
Here’s where the state could find $350 million, according to
Monroe: $240 million a biennium in uncollected
revenues, much of which is in the form of employers
not paying unemployment taxes, plus streamlining
“bloated” state government management to the tune
of $110 million in savings. He also said that the state
could save money by reducing the amount of work
currently being outsourced and by cutting the amount of
outstate travel done by state employees at all levels of the
bureaucracy. Monroe said that MAPE has twice tried to
pass its savings plans to the governor, and both times the
governor’s budget staff rebuffed the union’s efforts “to
help.” “The public employee unions and the spenders and
the DFL should quit coming up with the tax increase of the
week -- or the day -- idea and focus on how we can reduce
our spending,” Pawlenty said on his radio show in April.
“We answered his call to action, and no action has been
taken by him,” Monroe said. It should be noted that Monroe
believes that new revenues – in the form of taxes – must
be forthcoming. He favors increasing taxes on cigarettes
and alcohol, as well as adding a fourth tier to the state
income tax tables. But, he insisted, better management
practices also are needed in state government.
Pointing to state guidelines, Monroe said that
nonprofits obtaining state funds must cap the
percentage of management at 15 percent of the
workforce. Several state agencies and offices have farhigher percentages of management, including the
Higher Education Service Office (44.7 percent
management), Minnesota Management & Budget (32.9
percent management), Human Rights Department (25.7
percent), Commerce Department (23.7 percent), the
governor’s office (21 percent management) and the
Health Department (18.1 percent). “He (Pawlenty)
portrays himself as a fiscal conservative,’’ Monroe said.
“But what are his priorities? Why not collect money owed?
Why not scrutinize where money is being spent … Prudent
fiscal management has not been a part of this
administration.”
Monroe also took several shots at Pawlenty’s talk of
forcing furloughs on state. Putting MAPE workers on 24day furloughs would actually cost the state money, Monroe
said, because 60 percent of the funds used for MAPE
payroll come via the federal government.
Local 34 Banner
- Wes Volkenant
This month, my buzzword is “empathy.” As in the characteristic that President Obama is
said to be looking for in the next Supreme Court Justice. Before I talk about empathy
and contracts and politics, let me talk about the Supreme Court nomination. I like real
life suspense and surprise, so I love the drama around Vice-Presidential picks, Supreme
Court nominations, and the NFL and NBA drafts. As of May 17th, my list shows two
liberals – Solicitor General Elena Kagan and Law Professor Pamela Karlan on top, as the
best and brightest. Sorry guys, it’s going to be a woman – in fact, there are so many
strong women possibilities for Obama that if he does replace up to three Justices, I
expect two, and maybe all three choices to be women. Besides Kagan and Karlan,
Judges Diane Wood and Sonia Sotomayor, and Georgia Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears,
are on my list of the most likely. Assuming the President makes his decision before
June 1st, we’ll have a summer of nomination fireworks before our new Justice assumes
her seat in October.
Now, while the President’s choice of the word “empathy” infers finding a Justice who will
look at real-life experience and the “common good” in those 5% of the gray-area cases
Justices undertake, “empathy” here at home infers the need for contract negotiations
that recall there are no “bad guys”, no “us vs. them”, but simply a community of people
with shared interests in an outcome that applies to our “common good” in the midst of a
period of limited resources.
In Minnesota, our Governor seems to be missing the “empathy” characteristic, as seen
in his stubborn adherence to the principle of “no new taxes” no matter the
consequences. Pawlenty, Siefert and other Republican leaders see a different world
than I. They do not see the same role for government services as I’ve come to expect us
to provide in this society. They have no empathy for the aged, the disabled, the sick and
the poor. Keep government small, make people and their families fend for themselves,
and provide the minimal essential services. That’s not the society I look to and thought I
lived in. In my society, the rich pay their fair share – a big share – of taxes, and provide
the foundation of revenue that funds the community’s governmental services. Those
services have to be paid for or they will go away. The Governor, by outmaneuvering the
DFL Legislature will be striking a blow for Republican hard-heartedness; eliminating
programs like GAMC for our poorest single adults represents the lack of empathy these
people feel, as they place toeing a fiscal hard line that fails to raise taxes as a way of
balancing budget cuts and raising revenue, ahead of taking care of the people most in
need, of providing adequate resources to cities, counties and schools, and of funding our
crumbling infrastructure. So what comes next? Where’s the heartfelt empathy?
Budget Battle: DFLers Lose, So Now What?
http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2009/05/18/8878/budget_battle_dflers_lose_so_now_what
I encourage you to read this article – and its comments. Here’s an excerpt:
 The poor will not be denied medical coverage. They will still walk into Hennepin County Medical
Center without any ID or proof of residency or money and they will be treated. The hospital will
just be paid less for it by the state taxpayers. This effectively cuts medical costs. If government
keeps footing the bill for everything, the hospitals will just keep billing them and medical costs
will continue to skyrocket.
 So in other words, what we need is to force a publicly run hospital that relies on local tax money
to accept the poor for free because we, the rich, white, God-fearing conservatives don't want to
pay for it, and that will somehow help reduce the cost of health care? Unbelievable that people
think this kind of nonsense.
 What a silly statement… "GOVERNMENT" will still be paying what it must, except it will be the
property taxpayers of only Hennepin County, not the whole state’s taxpayers. Medical staff will
not work for free. Many of the "staff" in hospitals work for "for-profit," privately-owned smallbusiness providers under contract in medical facilities. That’s why you (or your insurance co.) get
separate bills from the x-ray, respiratory, laboratory, specialists, and ER docs - besides the
hospital facility. Likewise, I can't see privately-owned, for-profit-business medical supply
companies or food service companies deciding to donate their materials to any medical
facilities such as Hennepin County. That cost will not go down either.
June 2009
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ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Local 34 will hold an election at the June 3, 2009
General Assembly of up to 7 delegates to attend the
July 10-12, 2009 International Labour Council
conference held at the Bloomington Sheraton.
Since all events are held after work on Friday, July 10
and then on Saturday and Sunday, July 11-12, 2009,
the only expense reimbursed will be mileage. The
Local will cover the cost of registration for the
delegates. Anyone interested in putting their name
forward for this event should contact me by no later
than 12:00 noon on Wednesday, June 3, 2009.
We received the sad news that our former Vice
President, Mary Kay Windels, lost her mother,
Catherine Windels, on April 30, 2009. Mary Kay asked
me to share with you that her mother's passing was
peaceful and that she appreciates all the kind words of
support and sympathy.
Andrea Lazo-Rice, Angel Alexander, Chalmers Davis,
Clifford Robinson, Ibrahim Adam, Jacqueline
Coleman, Kathleen Farber, Patrick Regan and I were
the members of the Local 34 Executive Board who
attend the Council 5/International sponsored Local
Union Leadership Academy (LULA) training held in
Mankato on May 4-5, 2009. We spent time exchanging
ideas with members of Local 306 from Dakota County
and Local 607 from DHS - Faribault – finding out how
they handled tasks that we all have in common. Some
of the topics we discussed were ones we had covered
in previous trainings while others were new to me. The
time was certainly well spent, as we developed an
action plan to map our Local and a phone/e-mail tree
for future actions. The Executive Board will flesh out
the plan at our May and June meetings and bring
information to the General Assembly for
feedback/discussion.
Master Negotiations Committee
The following members have been appointed to our
Local 34 Master Negotiations Committee: Andrea
Lazo-Rice, Cathy Cowden, Chalmers Davis,
Clifford Robinson, Ester Killion, Fatuma Kassim,
Halima Said, Jacquelin Poole, Jacqueline
Coleman, Jean Diederich, John Herzog, Kela
Williams (she has since withdrawn from the appointment),
Laurie Simon, Patrick Regan, Paul Madison,
Shawnice Reid, Vicki Moore, and Wes Volkenant.
These folks will represent you at the future Master
Negotiations Committee meetings - those held to
develop the contract proposal and those held after to
review any tentative agreement. We had our first
meeting on May 12, 2009, with the next one scheduled
for June 2, 2009. A subcommittee has been appointed
to develop a survey to, hopefully, be sent out via
computer using the Survey Monkey tool.
Local 34 Banner
The survey will ask for your feedback on this year’s process and we do appreciate your
response as that will help to determine how we proceed.
Voluntary Special Leave Without Pay
The AFSCME Presidents met with all but one of the Commissioners prior to the Board
meeting on Tuesday to let them know that we were not in favor of a mandatory furlough
program. We did ask that, if they were determined to do something, they offer
employees the choice to use Special Leave Without Pay on a voluntary basis to meet the
$4.5 million goal. As you can tell from the resolution passed, we had some success in
that the program is voluntary - for now. Hopefully, employees will volunteer enough time
so that it will not become a mandatory furlough situation. The time can be used in
whatever fashion best suits each employee. Some folks have told me they plan to take a
day every month while others have said they will take 2-3 hours every pay period.
Whatever each person decides, it can be stretched out over the course of the year.
As for the 32 hours - interestingly enough, Peter McLaughlin took a page from our
negotiations process and said we should ask for more than what we need in the hopes
of getting what is needed. His amendment was to ask for 4 days - 32 hours - in the
hopes of achieving the 3 days - 24 hours goal that Richard Johnson said is needed to get
to the $4.5 million savings. Sometimes the lessons we teach are learned just a little too
well.... There is a review date of July 1, 2009 to see if the requests for the time
submitted by employees will achieve the goal of $4.5 million. If that goal is not
achieved, the Board would then revisit the matter of a mandatory furlough. The
resolution was further amended to have a report made to the Board on how the program
will be implemented and how leave requests will be handled. The intent of the program
is to ask employees to make a commitment to the number of hours they want to
volunteer. Employees will have til the end of the year to take the SLWOP. Please read
the May 13, 2009 memo from Richard Johnson for all the specifics of the plan and how
to submit any hours you plan to use.
When we were meeting with the Commissioners, we had conversations about some of
the concerns we had about this program and the impact it would have on the timeliness
of our work, on how it would affect time reporting which is the basis for reimbursements
for our programs, and how the time would be managed along with existing sick leave
and vacation requests. If you have feedback on those issues or have others that are of
concern to you, please let me know so that we can find the answers.
Override, Override, Override
Angel Alexander, Vern Wagner, Vicki Moore and I
participated in a May 17, 2009 rally at the Capitol to
encourage an override of the Governor's veto of the tax
bill. We joined many of our fellow Council 5 members in
forming a gauntlet that the House representatives walked
through to go into the House chambers. Many of our
legislative friends stopped to talk to us, thanking us for
our presence and encouraging us to keep the pressure on
their cohorts to override the veto. They also asked us to ask our neighbors and friends to
do the same. Russ Scheidler, our AFSCME poet laureate, composed a song titled "King
Tim of Minnesota" for the occasion. The video of Russ and the AFSCME Chorus singing
the song may come to YouTube soon! (see page 9 of the newsletter)
As I write this, the override vote on May 17th failed and the budget is not balanced. It
will be interesting to see what happens between now and the time you read this article.
As always, we public employees from all sectors of government will continue to carry on
with our work in spite of any roadblocks and barriers. It would be nice if the laws passed
would enable us to provide quality and timely service.
As we head into the summer months filled with picnics, gardens, yard work, and other
outdoor activities, remember to take time to enjoy the sun and take time for yourself.
We all need to keep replenishing our mental health batteries!
Jean
June 2009
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