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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Duluth Averts Strike
City of Duluth workers in Local 66 vote March 17 on a tentative agreement reached after a 19-hour bargaining session with mediators. The negotiating committee is unanimously recommending ratification.
The deal came after 93 percent of members turned out to overwhelmingly reject the city’s revised, last, final, best offer. Instead, members fought off Mayor Don Ness’ union-busting proposals, authorized a strike, and forced the city back into negotiations.
The TA includes stronger layoff protection, wins four days of pay by ending forced furloughs, and retains steps, longevity pay and health benefits.
Big Progress on Contracts
Proctor Independent School District 704: Members of Local 66 in the school district’s basic unit have ratified a two-year deal that provides pay raises of 1.5 percent this year and 2 percent in 2011. The contract also increases the district’s contribution to family medical insurance; improves overtime pay eligibility; gives laid-off workers first crack at substitute work; and gives licensed cooks a pay bump. Members gained all this without any concessions.
The school district’s bus drivers will vote this month on a tentative agreement of their own. It’s got the same wage and insurance improvements. Plus it guarantees drivers a minimum number of hours, making them all eligible for benefits.
Hermantown School District: Transportation workers in Local 66 will vote this month on a tentative agreement on a two-year contract. As in Proctor, the proposal avoids concessions. It also provides 1 percent pay raises in 2010 and 2011, increases employer health and dental contributions, and improves job posting and personal leave language.
City of Champlin: Members of Local 2454 ratified a two-year contract that guarantees no cuts in hours or jobs through 2011. The contract also improves holiday pay, funeral leave, life insurance and sick leave options.
Half Empty, More Empty
The state’s latest budget forecast hides bad news behind not-as-bad news.
The current deficit now looks like it will be slightly smaller, at just under $1 billion. But the deficit projected for the next budget is actually worse, growing by $363 million to a whopping $5.8 billion.
No matter how many times the governor and his legislative lap dogs click their heels, the facts show that Minnesota has an ongoing structural deficit that is not being cured by their gimmicks, nonstop cuts, and insistence on shifting the problem onto communities, the middle class, the jobless and the vulnerable.
Council 5 continues to call on the Legislature to fix the budget with fairness and compassion, and to raise vital revenue by requiring the rich and corporations to pay their fair share.
Privateers Target Moose Lake Prison
We told you last issue about legislation to prohibit Minnesota from outsourcing corrections by requiring that state inmates be housed in state prisons.
Well, the privateers still have their puppets. They’ve introduced a Senate bill that would shut down the state’s Moose Lake prison, transfer all inmates to the now-empty private prison in Appleton, then use Moose Lake entirely for sex offender treatment. You can direct your opposition to SF 2876 to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
AFSCME Locals Lead Campus Rally
University of Minnesota Locals 3800 and 3937 spearheaded a huge campus rally March 4. They’re pushing an alternative to the administration’s path of solving budget woes through higher tuition for students and staff cuts and pay cuts for front-line employees.
Instead, a coalition of workers, faculty and students is suggesting that the administration start by reversing the rapid expansion and bloated salaries within its own ranks.
Help Build Students’ Futures
The annual Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Dinner takes place March 25 at the Prom Center in Oakdale. The event, which honors the late, pioneering Minnesota labor leader, raises scholarship money for MnSCU students.
Organizers now are accepting silent auction donations from unions and individuals. For information on making a donation, or on purchasing tickets, contact organizers.
Training for Local Activists
Financial Responsibility Training:
• April 7, South St. Paul
This training is required for local treasurers and encouraged for anyone who signs checks or audits local finances. Each one-day class runs from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The $20 fee includes lunch and materials.
Basic Steward Training:
• March 16-17, South St. Paul
• March 31-April 1, Willmar
The two-day classes run from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. They cost $50, which covers lunches and a manual.
All training class participants must be registered by an officer in their local. Officers should contact Christina Domeier.
Develop Your Leadership Skills
The Minnesota AFL-CIO is offering grants to union activists who want to attend classes, conferences or programs that develop their skills and potential as labor leaders. For details on the Labor Leadership Grants, see the 2010 scholarship section at the state federation’s website.