http://www.afscmelocal34.org/ AFSCME Council 5, Local 34, Hennepin County Social Services and Related Employees

News from the October General Assembly—October 3, 2007
Officers attending were: Jean Diederich, Clifford Robinson, Wes Volkenant, Patrick Regan, Rita Salone, Katie Farber,Kela Williams, Chalmers Davis,
Andrea Lazo-Rice, Ibrahim Adam, Vicki Moore, Mary Kay Windels, Angel Alexander Excused Absences: Shannon Wesley and Margaret Yzaguirre
  • General Assembly and E-Board: At the GA meeting, we were joined by four guests from Local 3400 – our Child Care “sister” union. Angel Alexander updated us on her plans to get Local 34 to show the movie “SiCKO” by Michael Moore. At GA, we authorized her to spend up to $400 to purchase 100 tickets which would make available free to our members. At the E-Board meeting, Angel was securing the Riverview Theater in south Minneapolis for a November 3 showing; we approved spending an additional $300 for Angel to secure the theater, which will show SiCKO at $2 per person. Afterwards, there is a door-knocking to elect pro-AFSCME candidates in St. Paul. At E-Board, the Local approved sending $100 to Commissioner Peter McLaughlin’s October 25th fundraiser, and it approved Vice President Volkenant’s motion to have the President identify a location for the Local’s leadership to meet at in a full-day Retreat in mid-February (perhaps tied in with the E-Board meeting that month.
VP Volkenant reported at both meetings about a session he and Matt Nelson conducted with CP HSR staff October 2nd, and the results of a survey the HSRs completed. VP Volkenant prepared a report and presented highlights at both Meet & Confer and at the E-Board. Bottom line: HSRs are underpaid, most are working across HSR classifications – but a significant like and prefer doing so, HSRs wanted the whole issue of internal unit reallocations resolved – quickly, and we still have HSR issues to discuss with Management going into 2008. Katie Farber has kept us updated on our internal organizing drive that continues through November. Early in the month, Kela Williams reported that we had reduced Fair Share numbers from 371 to 358 at the start of our efforts. By the October E-Board meeting, Katie reported that Local 34 had signed up 58 official new members (and President Diederich added several more at Orientation earlier in the week). There will be VMO training offered by Eric Lehto at Council 5 for up to five interested persons.
President Diederich reported that in October she would be meeting with new Corrections Director Tom Merckle on issues of racism. She and Business Agent Matt Nelson have kept the Local updated on Negotiations matters – see the October 25 update below. A new Officer-Steward list is being updated, and should be posted around all of our worksites – if not, request a copy from the President or Vice Presidents. At GA, we had a nice update on the Council 5 Convention, which the President discusses in her column on page 16. We approved Lost Time and mileage for our MSSA representatives to attend an October 15 meeting. John Herzog presented an update on contracting-out discussions with Todd Monson, as they examine revenue vs. costs. Vicki Moore was approved as a temporary PEOPLE Chair – next year we need co-chairs appointed. In November, we will discuss the appointment of a new Good & Welfare person to succeed the retiring Barb Gassler (see the President’s column).
  • October Meet and Confer: Rex Holzemer gave us a very thought-provoking look at the 2008 Budget for HSPHD. On November 13, HSPHD presents its Budget to the Board. County Administrator Richard Johnson has been working closely with the Department in shaping its direction. HSPHD is taking a long, serious look at the services it provides, its contracts – and its options. There will likely be positions reduced in the 2008 Budget – but the Department expects to address them through attrition, and it planned for that by carrying a larger vacancy load this year than normal. We had an interesting discussion about the County’s Regional Services Plan and how the closing of Century Plaza will figure into that. The County is looking at services in six regional areas. The first area that will probably be addressed is the Northwest suburbs – think Maple Grove. This area has the most clients served now, it has the most space options available, and it’s ready for services. As Century Plaza staff get relocated when that building finally closes, locating its staff within the plan for regionalization of services will be an important consideration. Elsewhere, Jean Diederich and I have addressed updates on the HSR classification and our Mileage Expense Arbitration case. We began to discuss alternative work schedules and options, and spent time fleshing out ideas. We spent considerable time discussing telecommuting as an option for professional staff, who go out into the field to see their clients.

  • Update on Negotiations: As we head into our last two scheduled sessions – November 5 and 28 – we also move into Mediation. There was significant movement in our final October session, though the main parts of a contract settlement remain unresolved. On Wages, the Employer started at 1% (with more for the top step), while we began with 6% increases in our proposal. Neither side has moved much – we are at 5.5%, and they are now at 1.75%, with 2.25% at the top step. Expect us to spend a long night, into the morning of November 29 before the wage issue is finally settled. On Health Insurance, the County’s long-awaited proposal arrived about a month ago – it would require Singles to pay $25 per month premiums and would divide Family coverage into three tiers – Employee + Spouse (similar premium to the current $336/month); Employee + Child(ren) which would pay a smaller ($258) premium, and Family coverage for Spouse and Children at a significantly higher $395 per month. The County’s four-tier plan costs Singles and Families more, and actually costs the County more, but some key officials are insisting on having Singles begin paying a premium. We have made a proposal which keeps Singles at $0 premium, reduces the premium for Employee + Spouse and Employee + Children, and keeps Families at about Status Quo. Our proposal would have the County pay a larger percentage of the premium cost than it does this year. The County is also asking us to accept a VEBA plan (high deductible insurance) alongside HealthPartners’ Distinctions Plan in 2009; as of now, we continue to reject their VEBA proposal.
Although we were forced to drop several of our own proposals in areas such as vacation and sick leave, we have reached agreement with the County to drop its PTO proposals. We are still earnestly discussing Retiree Health Insurance and a Health Care Savings Plan (HCSP). While the County would end Retiree Health Insurance for future employees, we would keep it for those hired after 2007, using the HCSP proposal. We believe HCSP can be paid for through both employee and employer contributions, while our own Local can shape the details of the Plan, which would be for all persons covered in our contract. The County has finally dropped its proposal to increase the part-time hours threshold necessary to qualify for health insurance coverage. Another proposal they dropped would have given Supervisors the ability to bump back into our classifications in the event of layoffs. The County has also accepted our supplemental proposal to increase the number of stewards from 32 to 45. And, after much discussion, we finally have agreement on language for the reallocation of HSR positions, which will lead to internal unit promotions to HSR 2 and 3 positions. The Employer expects to begin the process in November.

Local 34 has had a Trustee vacancy for a few months. The Trustees meet once a year to audit the Local’s books with Treasurer Pat Regan. This is an important function, and a great way to get involved in the Local – without a major time commitment. If you’ve been a member of the Local for at least one year, won’t you consider volunteering your time and abilities? Please let President Diederich know if you are interested in serving us in this capacity.

Council 5 Training in November and December: Chief Steward Training on November 27

and Basic Steward Training, December 6 & 7

All training listed is at the Council 5 Metro Office, 8:30-4:40

Do You Have Friends Who Would Like to Receive Our Newsletter?

UPCOMING MEETING SCHEDULE

November / 7th
GA - HSB 112 / 21st
E-Board - HSB 917 / December / 5th
GA - HSB 112 / 19th
E-Board - HSB 917

Health Insurance and Health News for Union Members – The Big Issues This Year!

HEAL SICKO!

5% HEALTH CARE SOLUTION

http://www.afscmemn.org/news/update/index.php

No person should have to pay more than 5 percent of their gross income on health care. Our health care system is broken and it’s time to start a consumer’s movement to control costs. Our health care committee has come up with a working policy solution that first defines affordability to then reform it for all Americans.

To learn more about the Heal Sicko! 5% Solution, visit www.afscmemn.org and click on the 5% Solution video. To get Heal Sicko! buttons, call Claudia Schufman at 651-287-0510 or pick them up in Council 5’s South St. Paul lobby. See Page 1 for a showing of the film on 11/3/07.

Wall Street and VEBAs
The United Autoworkers (UAW) and General Motors (GM) entered in a historical five-year agreement which will transfer the administration of retiree health benefits to the UAW. We've explore the potential downfall of such arrangements for unions, but apparently others are licking their lips.
From the Detroit Free-Press:
So, does Wall Street now go from cursing unions to courting them? Wall Street-types are looking at the potential for managing a pile of money now that the UAW and General Motors Corp. have reached a tentative agreement for the creation of a retiree health care trust. GM is expected to have to come up with $35 billion to fund the voluntary employee beneficiary association, or VEBA, that it wanted as part of the 2007 contract talks.
As GM goes, so likely will Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC. The Detroit Three are looking to get tens of billions of dollars in health care liabilities for their retirees off their books. The UAW would be running the retiree medical plans . . . .If Ford and Chrysler both get similar health care trust agreements, auto experts say the UAW could be turning to banks, financial-service firms and investment companies to manage about $70 billion for the Detroit Three's retirees. And let's face it, even on Wall Street, where millions can look like pocket change, a $70-billion bonanza couldn't completely be ignored.
So, let me get this straight: companies will likely profit, while employee retirement health care is up in the air.
Sound fair to everyone? A national health care system sounds better every day.
Prof. Paul Secunda, Workplace Prof Blog
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/laborprof_blog/2007/10/wall-street-and.html#comments / New York Times Editorial on GM VEBA Deal
The New York Times has written a mostly positive editorial on the retiree health care transfer through the VEBA device between General Motors and the United Autoworkers:
The health insurance deal struck by leaders of General Motors and the United Automobile Workers union is a sensible compromise. Sadly, it will also add G.M. to the growing list of companies that are reducing employer-sponsored health coverage and transferring more risks and costs to their workers. This is a further sign of why there has to be a government-led effort to solve the country’s health care problems.
The core of the deal is that G.M. will transfer responsibility for more than $50 billion in projected health insurance costs for retirees and their dependents to a new trust managed by the union. G.M. will seed the trust with some $30 billion that is expected to grow over time to meet these obligations. The union will benefit by grabbing billions of health care dollars from G.M.’s pocket that it fears might otherwise be lost in a bankruptcy.
Of course, it is only a sensible compromise if the markets don't tank and the union is left holding the bag when there is not enough money to pay retiree health care costs of union members. The Times recognizes this possibility, but does not seem overly concerned about its eventuality.
One thing that the Times does point out, which I was previously unaware of, is the creation of a research body to study ways to solve some of this nation's health care problems:
That's true, and as the Times points out, the VEBA device is not a long-term solution. The company and the union will also create a new research institute to propose reforms for the cost, quality and coverage problems of American health care. These problems require lasting national solutions.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=48064

KEEP A UNION VOICE ON HEALTHPARTNERS BOARD
Council 5 Director Eliot Seide is up for re-election to the HealthPartners Board of Directors. He brings a consumer’s voice to the board and is a strong advocate for quality care and affordable health insurance. Watch for your ballot in the mailbox.

Arnold’s Veto ‘Dashes Hopes’ of California Health Care Reform
by James Parks, Oct 10, 2007
http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/10/10/arnolds-veto-dashes-hopes-of-health-care-reform/
Despite calling for health care reform, CaliforniaGov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill, AB 8, which would extend affordablecoverage to the vast majority of uninsured Californians. Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation, says that by vetoing the bill Schwarzenegger will dash the hopes of working families who cannot afford to wait another day for change to happen.