Front Page Archive

Basket for Community Fund Drive created by member Brad Kraling

Brad Kraling, an AFSCME Local 3937 Executive Board member, has created a gift basket for the University's Community Fund Drive. Each year for the last few years our Local has contributed a gift basket to give as a prize in the weekly drawings for U of M employees who contribute to the fund drive.

We want to thank Brad for all the work he's done. It's a beautiful basket!

October Newsletter

View the most recent newsletter on the Newsletter page.

New Voting System for Minneapolis Residents
Get Set For Change in November 3 City Elections

On November 3, 2009, voters in Minneapolis will be able to rank their choices for Mayor, City Council, Board of Estimate and Taxation, and Park and Recreation Board when they go to the polls on Election Day.

This fall will be the first time that Minneapolis voters will be using this new voting method. Minneapolis is making the change because voters approved using Ranked Choice Voting for municipal elections by referendum in 2006.

This new voting process will combine the Primary and General Elections into a single election, so there is no primary this year. All the candidates that filed for the election will appear on the November ballot.

How to Vote

Much like the current method, voters will vote by filling in an oval on a paper ballot. Instead of just marking one candidate on the ballot, voters will be able to rank up to three candidates for the same office. However, voters are not required to rank more than one candidate. Voters will mark their first choice by filling in the oval next to the candidate’s name in the column that says first choice, then a different candidate for their second choice, and a different candidate for their third choice.

It is important to remember that you vote the same way whether you are voting for a single seat race like Mayor or a multi-seat race like, Parks and Recreation Board at-large.

How votes are counted

The counting process begins by sorting and counting the first choice votes for all candidates. If no candidate receives the required number of votes to win, a process of eliminating candidates and considering subsequent ranked choices begins. Under Ranked Choice Voting, a voter’s second and third choice cannot harm a voter’s first choice because election officials will not count a voter’s second or third choice unless the voter’s first choice has already been eliminated. For additional information visit Ranked Choice Minneapolis or ask a question about Ranked Choice Voting by calling 311.

Health Care Reform

We know how important the Health Care Reform plan will be for all working people - whether you're single or

NEW! Free screening of a film on Health Care

AFSCME Council 5 and the Labor Education Service of the University of Minnesota have gotten together to sponsor a free screening of a new film about the US health care system.

Here's the info on that:

Confused by the health care debate? A newly released film, called Money Driven Medicine, offers an accessible and journalistically rigorous explanation of how the U.S. health care system went so terribly wrong and what it will take to fix it. Produced by Academy Award winner Alex Gibney and based on Maggie Mahars acclaimed book by the same title. Watch the trailer at Money Driven Medicine. Join us for a free screening of the film on Tuesday, September 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Ave., St. Paul. For more information, call Labor Education Services at 612-624-5020.

Here's a take on the issues that may give you a clearer picture of what kind of impact true reform will have on workers. Without the shouting...

This is from the AFL-CIO:
A lot of angry, over-the-top rhetoric is muddying our discussion of health care reform. To help clear things up, here's a brief summary of President Obama's plan, including how it will stop insurance company abuses and help you--even if you currently have a strong health benefits plan.

• Health care reform will stop insurance company abuses.
• • Insurance companies won't be able to refuse to pay a claim or
  • give you coverage because of "pre-existing" conditions.
  • Your out-of-pocket expenses will be capped. No more going broke because of a serious illness or injury.
  • Insurance companies won't be allowed to charge women higher rates than men or drop you if you get sick.
  • Insurance companies will have to cover your children until age 26 instead of dumping them at 19.
• Health care reform will hold down rising costs.
  • A public health insurance option will force private insurers to compete and will lower costs for everyone.
  • By requiring companies to pay their fair share, we'll stop them from dumping their health care costs on the rest of us.
• Health reform means affordable health care will be there for you, no matter what. If you lose your job, or your kid loses his. If you get sick. When you retire. Affordable health care will be there for you, no matter what. That means you and your family can't fall through the cracks and won't go broke because of health care bills.

For more information about how health care reform can help you and for answers to many of the common questions about President Obama's plan, check out this new web resource from the White House: Reality Check

We are so close to real reform, but getting over the finish line will be a battle. We are up against giant insurance companies, a Republican Party that wants President Obama to fail and the corporate media like Fox and Rush Limbaugh.

The reality is that health care costs are spiraling out of control, and everyone in America deserves quality and affordable care. Health care reform simply can't wait. We will all be better off with real reform.
Marc Laitin AFL-CIO

Biden says unions are way to rebuild middle class

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden, making a renewed pitch for a major change in labor law, told union leaders Tuesday that the best way to rebuild the middle class is to help labor unions grow.

Biden said it's time to "level the playing field" for unions by passing a bill that would make it easier for workers to organize. Read more...

Memorial for Debbie Kerben, former Treasurer Local 3937

Debbie Kerben died Saturday, September 27th. She had been our Treasurer for eight years, and was active in our Local even before we had a Local union number. She was a 33-year employee of the University Libraries and will be missed by all of us - even if you didn't know her! Debbie played a strong, behind-the-scenes role as Treasurer, activist and conscience of our Local. At the regular membership meeting Wednesday, October 15, the Local approved a donation in Debbie's memory in the form of a memorial paver at the Minnesota AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion at the Minnesota State Fair. Look for that paver when you visit the Fair!

Some Myths and Realities surrounding the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)

The following information was taken directly from the website of the U. S. House Committee on Education and Labor. You can follow the link to learn more about the work of this important committee: http://edlabor.house.gov/micro/efca_myth.shtml

MYTH: The Employee Free Choice Act abolishes the National Labor Relations Board's "secret ballot" election process.
FACT: The Employee Free Choice Act does not abolish the National Labor Relations Board election process. That process would still be available under the Employee Free Choice Act. The legislation simply enables workers to also form a union through majority sign-up if a majority prefers that method to the NLRB election process. Under current law, workers may only use the majority sign-up process if their employer agrees. The Employee Free Choice Act would make that choice - whether to use the NLRB election process or majority sign-up - a majority choice of the employees, not the employer.

MYTH: The Employee Free Choice Act will increase intimidation and harassment by labor unions against workers.
FACT: Research has found that coercion and pressure actually drop - from both sides - when workers form a union through a majority sign-up process. Beyond this, harassment by unions is not the problem. In a study of a more than 60-year period, the Human Resources Policy Association listed 113 NLRB cases which they claimed involved union deception and/or coercion in obtaining authorization card signatures. Careful examination of those cases, however, reveals that union misconduct was found in only 42 of those 113 claimed cases. By contrast, in 2005 alone, over 30,000 workers received back pay from employers that illegally fired or otherwise discriminated against them for their union activities.

MYTH: The Employee Free Choice Act would require a secret ballot election in order for workers to get rid of a union.
FACT: Under current law, if an employer has evidence, such as cards or a petition, that a majority of workers no longer supports the union, then the employer is required by law to withdraw recognition of the union and stop bargaining, without an election, unless an election is pending. Under current law, the employer can and must withdraw recognition unilaterally, without the consent of the NLRB. The Employee Free Choice Act would not change this.

MYTH: The Employee Free Choice Act would require "public" union card signings.
FACT: Under current law, employees must sign cards or petitions to show their support for a union in order to obtain an election. And, under current law, when an employer agrees to a majority sign-up process, employees must sign cards to show the union's majority status. Signing a card under the Employee Free Choice Act is no different from these card signings under current law. The union authorization card under the Employee Free Choice Act is treated no differently than a petition for election or a card under a majority sign-up agreement. As with petitions for an election, under the Employee Free Choice Act, the National Labor Relations Board would receive the cards and determine their validity.

MYTH: The Employee Free Choice Act's sponsors support secret ballot elections for workers in Mexico, but not in the United States.
FACT: Members of Congress wrote to Mexican authorities in 2001 arguing in favor of a secret ballot election in a case where workers were trying to replace a sham incumbent union with an independent union. The Employee Free Choice Act is consistent with this: it would require an NLRB election in cases where workers seek to replace one union with another union. Indeed, the original framers of the National Labor Relations Act intended elections for precisely those cases where multiple unions were competing - particularly where one was a sham company union and another was a real independent union.

The mission of this committee is simple: Strengthening America's middle class.

Jurisdiction of the Committee:
(from the Labor segment of the "jurisdiction" page)
The Committee on Education and Labor also holds jurisdiction over workforce initiatives aimed at strengthening health care, job training, and retirement security for workers. Workforce issues in the jurisdiction of the Education and the Labor Committee include:
-Pension and retirement security for U.S. workers; -Access to quality health care for working families and other employee benefits;
-Job training, adult education, and workforce development initiatives, including those under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), to help local communities train and retrain workers;
-Continuing the successful welfare reforms of 1996;
-Protecting the democratic rights of individual union members;
-Worker health and safety, including occupational safety and health;
-Providing greater choices and flexibility (including "comp time" or family time options) to working women and men;
-Equal employment opportunity and civil rights in employment;
-Wages and hours of labor, including the Fair Labor Standards Act;
-Workers' compensation, and family and medical leave;
-All matters dealing with relationships between employers and employees.

You can read more about this committee and the work it does on its home page: http://edlabor.house.gov/

Here are some additional links with information about the Employee Free Choice Act
http://www.afscme.org/resolutions/2004/r36-105.htm
http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/efca/
http://wcco.com/realitycheck/ad.organizing.workers.2.767488.html
(WCCO TV's Pat Kessler's program "Reality Check")

Negotiations Information Meetings - Twin Cities

We will be holding information meetings to discuss the recent Tentative Agreement (TA) on our 2009-2011 contract. We urge you to attend one of these meetings and ask questions about the TA. The contract vote will be a mail ballot which will be addressed to your home and mailed early the week of July 6th. If you are not a member, a membership card will be enclosed with the ballot. You must sign it and return it with your ballot in order for your vote to count. (The ballots and cards will be separated before the ballot envelope is opened; we cross-check by return address - your vote is secret.)

For specific information about the changes to our contract that are in the tentative agreement, see the 2009 Negotiations page.

All meetings will be held at noon at the following locations:
(If you can’t make a meeting in your geographic area, please plan to attend another meeting if you can.)
(Download flyer with dates (pdf))

Tuesday, June 23, noon - West Bank, 105 Blegen

Wednesday, June 24, noon - Medical Area, 555 Diehl Hall

Wednesday, June 24, noon - West Bank & Off-campus, 142 WBOB

Friday, June 26, noon - St. Paul, VTH Atrium

Friday, June 26, noon - East Bank, 170 Tate Hall (Physics)

Please get in touch with any of the Technical Negotiations Committee members if you have questions:

Barbara Bezat
Union: 612-379-3933 (p.m.) / wk: 612-625-3550 (a.m.)
[email protected]

Denise Osterholm, Local 3801, Co-Chair
wk: 218-726-6312
[email protected]

Jody Ebert
wk: 612-625-7871
[email protected]

Krista Gallagher
wk: 612-625-9946
[email protected]

Ken Holm
cell: 612-296-3727
[email protected]

Greg Knoblauch
wk: 612-625-1200
[email protected]

Ron Kubik
wk: 320-589-6150
[email protected]

Ryan Mattke
wk: 612-624-2030
[email protected]

Beth Wolszon
wk: 612-624-7401
[email protected]

NOTICE of NOMINATIONS for OFFICER ELECTIONS
2008 - 2010

Positions to be elected at large:
President
Vice-President/Chief Steward
Vice-President/Organizer
Recording Secretary Treasurer
Trustee (three year term)

Executive Board Members to be elected from Geographical Areas:
(2) Health Sciences
(1) East Bank
(1) West Bank
(1) St. Paul
(1) Off campus metro
(1) Crookston
(1) Morris
(1) Greater Minnesota

All positions (except trustees) are 2-year terms.

Nominations will be accepted through April 16, 2008 and can be sent or telephoned to:
Beth Wolszon at
Work: 612-624-7401
E-Mail: [email protected]
Work address:
Magrath Library Acquisitions
1984 Buford Ave
St. Paul, MN 55108

Nominations will close at the general membership meeting.
April 16th, 2008
5:15 pm
1313 5th St SE Room 332B
Minneapolis, MN 55455

If there are contested seats, elections will be by mail ballots
(to members only) and will be sent in late April

Download PDF Document of announcement

AFSCME Day on the Hill, April 1st and 2nd

Lately you may have seen e-mails going out from the Office of Human Resources or your department about AFSCME Day on the Hill and wondered what it is. Day on the Hill is a lobbying day for AFSCME Council 5 Members from all over the state, including U of M AFSCME Members. For Day on the Hill, AFSCME Members converge at the MN State Capitol and meet with our respective legislators to discuss issues of vital importance to us as public employees. Whether it is a budgetary issue or a piece of legislation it is important for us to let our Representatives know how these issues would affect us as AFSCME members and University employees.

The AFSCME U of M Locals have made building our legislative power and presence at the Capitol a major goal for our members. We need your help in building that power, and we STRONGLY encourage as many of our members who are interested in attending Day on the Hill, April 1st and 2nd, to sign-up by March 17th.

The University will give you a paid day to attend the Wednesday, April 2nd sessions. This is the day we meet in the morning to coordinate our message, and go to the Capitol to talk to our Legislators. Our Local will pay your lost time and registration if you wish to attend the training workshops on Tuesday, April 1st. All we ask is a $15 dollar contribution for April 2nd. to cover the cost of lunch and supplies.

Remember, we are public employees and we want to have an impact on the budget priorities passed by the Legislature. We are also University employees and we want to be able to influence legislation that has a direct impact on us and on the University.

If we want to build our power as University AFSCME Members, then AFSCME Day on the Hill is a great first step in that journey. If you have any questions or want to sign-up for AFSCME Day on the Hill, please contact either our President Barb Bezat at OR 612-379-3933 or or 612-624-6368 before March 17th.

(For more information you can visit the AFSCME Council 5 website at: http://afscmemn.org/ and scroll down the page for "AFSCME Day on the Hill")

Retro pay:

The University has scheduled our retro pay (across the board & steps) to be delivered on the paycheck for Wednesday, December 19th.

Employees at the top of the range as of July 1, 2007 will receive a lump sum of $300. Employees on active employment status on October 15th, 2007 (ratification date) will receive a lump sum of $300. (In year Two, the lump sums will appear on the first payroll of the Fiscal Year, which falls in June.)

NOTE: If you wish to reduce the taxes you pay for this check only, you can go to the University's Employee Self Service page at http://hrss.umn.edu/ and follow the directions to "Update Your W-4 Tax Information." Important: If you wish to change your W-4 (tax withholding statement) FOR THIS CHECK ONLY, you must go to the Employee Self Service (ESS) no later, we believe, than Wednesday, December 12. (If you don't know how many personal withholding allowances to choose, use the "paycheck calculator" to help make your decision.) Remember to change it back, or you will be hit with a major tax bill on your 2007 taxes if you leave it at less withholding. You can change it back to normal on Thursday, December 20, 2007.

Health care information:

1) The University sent an e-mail to all employees with information about the new dependent coverage. This coverage has been extended to dependents from age 19 until the end of their 24th year. There are two categories of dependents – those who qualify as dependents under IRS rules, and those who do not. Both categories are covered, but there are tax liabilities to you as the employee if your dependent(s) do not fall under the IRS dependent definition.

The e-mail from the University explained the difference, and set out the process for adding a dependent under this new coverage. An important difference is that you must fill out paperwork for that dependent ONLY, and do the rest of your enrollment online.

If you have any questions – get in touch with the Employee Benefits department at: [email protected] Or by telephone at: 612-624- 9090 or 800-756-2363.

2) There was an slight error in our printed newsletter regarding replacement of MSRS (retirement) allotment. You will be charged interest, which is approximately 8.5%. Call the MSRS office, 651-296-2761, toll Free: (800) 657-5757. They will figure out the amount due and send you the forms you need. You will be paying both the University's portion as well as your own.

Update from the Mutual Support Committee

[10/23/07]  To date 302 applications have been processed, and over $9,000 dollars in gas and food vouchers have been handed out.

That being said, the need for more money is still overwhelming. There are still over a hundred applications that need to be processed, and funds are not coming in like before.

Currently fund raising efforts are underway. We will also be approaching Council 5 and the International for more funds. The Minneapolis Central Labor Body has also taken some applications to work with, and will be helping us with fund raising and support efforts.

If you have not received a call stating that payment has been sent out (not what we can pay) then yours is still among the applications yet to be processed.

We ask that people understand that we don't know when payments can be made, but trust that we are working on getting more money and will be processing applications as quickly as we can.

Final Contract Vote Results

(Note: As soon as we have the date of the paycheck in which we will get our retroactive pay we will post it here and let people know via email.)

With 80% approval, AFSCME members have voted to accept the University of Minnesota’s contract offer for 2007-2009. That means that clerical, health care and technical workers will not return to the picket lines this fall.

After receiving the University’s offer, AFSCME members ended their 13-day strike for economic justice and returned to work by September 27th.

The joint union Negotiating Committee found the wage offer inadequate because it fails to keep up with inflation. For that reason, the committee made no recommendation on how members should vote on the contract offer. Last week, 3,150 AFSCME members had the opportunity to vote by mail ballot. Voters had two choices: to accept the contract offer, or to reject it and strike. Ballots were counted October 15.

The two-year contract includes a 2.25% across-the-board increase for clerical and technical employees, a 2.5% increase for health care workers, plus steps to reward longevity and a $300 lump sum in each year. Workers who don’t receive step increases will get an additional $300 in each year. View the union’s summary of the contract.

A typical U of M AFSCME worker earns $34,000 a year and qualifies for\ food stamps if supporting a family of four. That worker will earn $1,065 more next year with the new contract. The raise won’t cover the rising cost of food, gas and housing. Due to inflation, someone starting work under the new contract will earn 8% less than someone who started the job in 2003.

“Workers approved this contract for the same reason we were forced back to work,” explained Denise Osterholm, president of UMD Local 3801. “We’re struggling to afford food, gas and housing. We can’t sustain a further loss of wages.”

“The University should be ashamed that it workers can’t afford to send their kinds to the University,” said Barb Bezat, president of U of M Technical Local 3937.

“Morale has tanked and it’s time for the Bruininks administration to recognize that world class universities don’t treat their workers like second class citizens,” said Rhonda Jennen, president of U of M Health Care Local 3260.

“We’re energized to build a first class union and a world class university, which welcomes Minnesota’s working class, treats us with respect, and helps us prosper,” said Phyllis Walker, president of U of M Clerical Local 3800.

All four of the local union presidents have vowed ton continue their struggle for economic justice.

AFSCME Council 5 provides one strong united voice for 43,000 public and non-profit workers in Minnesota, including 3,150 health care, technical and clerical workers at five University of Minnesota campuses in the Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris, Crookston and Rochester.

Financial Support from the Greater Twin Cities United Way

http://www.unitedwaytwincities.org/communityinfo/211.cfm
This is 211 which is the old First Call for Help. People can get financial support for rent/mortgage and other necessities.

Just dial 2-1-1

Call United Way 2-1-1 and get connected with trained information specialists and volunteers. It's free, confidential and available 24/7. Cell phone users can call 651-291-0211. Visit the online version at United Way 2-1-1™/Twin Cities Beehive

Don't forget precinct caucuses are Tuesday, February 5, 7:00 pm

Need help finding your caucus location?

Click here for the Secretary of State’s Caucus Finder.

This is grassroots democracy in action.  These are Minnesota's town meetings.

Please take time to caucus with your neighbors on Tuesday, Feb 5.

STEWARD TRAINING!

U of M AFSCME Locals will hold joint Steward Training on:

Wednesday & Thursday, February 6th & 7th

Radisson University, 615 Washington Avenue SE, Mpls

If you are interested in learding about the roles and responsibilities of a Union Stewared, including union building, mobilzation techniques, and grievance handling, you are encouraged to get in touch with the Local to get registered. Our Local pays lost time and expenses associated with this training.

Local 3937 members are not required to sign on as stewards, although we urge you to ask about Steward work. This is a very valuable training opportunity for anyone interested in becoming more active in our Union.

Please get in touch with: Ken Holm, VP/Chief Steward at: 612-296-3727 or the Local office at: 612-379-3933 or by e-mail at: [email protected] for more information.

Stand up to the U's RATionale for Devaluing Your Wages!

Download Flyer with times and locations.

Wear Green at these Noon Rallies:

Wednesday, Aug 1 - West Bank Plaza
Monday, Aug 6 - Gateway Plaza
Wednesday, Aug 8 - Morrill Hall

And show your support for our negotiating team as we go back to the table on Thursday, August 9th, 9 a.m., Coffey Hall, St. Paul.

We need 8% to catch up, 4% to keep up!

Notice of Election of Delegates to the
AFSCME Council 5 Annual Convention

September 27 – 29, 2007
Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC)
Duluth, MN

Election of delegates will be at the regular August membership meeting

Wednesday,  August 15, 2007
5:15 pm
Room 332B, U Tech Center, 1313 5th St SE. Minneapolis, MN 55414.

The local has authorized full funding for all allowable delegates (38 members): registration fees; lost time wages; mileage; lodging; and per diem expenses consistent with AFSCME Council 5 expense policy.

Nominations must be submitted to Beth Wolszon, Election Chair. Nominations must be confirmed before the meeting.  If you or your nomination WILL NOT be at the membership meeting, we must have nominees’ written or e-mailed acceptance before 4:30 pm August 15, 2007.

If you have any questions, please contact Beth Wolszon at
Work: 612-624-7401
E-Mail: [email protected]
Work address:
Magrath Library Acquisitions
1984 Buford Ave
St. Paul, MN  5510

Photos from the U of M AFSCME Picnic

On Saturday, July 14, U of M AFSCME held our annual picnic at Columbia Park in Minneapolis. It was a fun and successful picnic again this year! Here are some pictures for you to enjoy. (Local 3800's Web site also has some photos).

Here's the 3-legged race from last year

1% Wage Increase Proposed by the University - Let President Bruininks Know This is Not OK.

[7/9/2007]   Your voice is the most important element in our fight for a decent contract. We ask that you send a message to President Bruininks letting him know that 1% is not enough.

Jody Ebert sworn in as Council 5 Executive Board member

Jody Ebert at the Council 5 office, with Eliot Seide, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 5

On Thursday, May 24, Jody Ebert (Wilson Library) was sworn in as a member of the AFSCME Minnesota Council 5 Executive Board. Jody was appointed to fill Candace Lund's vacancy on the E-Board for one of the West Metro seats.

Jody has been active in our Local since before we were a Local. She worked on the organizing campaign from the beginning, in 1989, and has held a wide variety of positions within the leadership of the Local. She's been President twice, been Treasurer, is a Steward and a Trustee, and is our representative to the University's Benefits Advisory Committee (to hammer out our Health Care plans.)

We congratulate Jody on her appointment to this position, and look forward to a continued AFSCME Local 3937 presence at the state Council

Thank you, Candace!

Where is Candace Lund now?

Candace Lund at the AFSCME International Convention, August, 2006

Candace Lund, former Local president, has left the University and is now the Mobilizing/Organizing Director at the Minnesota AFL-CIO. She says, "I am responsible for working with all affiliated unions and Central Labor Councils statewide to assist in efforts to strengthen and grow the labor movement in Minnesota."

"My email is [email protected], and phone is 651.294.3083, and I would love to hear from U of MN AFSCME members anytime."

Candace will be missed and we wish her well in her new job.

Jody Ebert new Council 5 Executive Board member

Jody Ebert, Library Assistant 3 in Wilson Library, has been appointed to the Council 5 Executive Board as a representative from the West Metro. This keeps Local 3937 in the know! Jody is taking the seat vacated by our own Candace Lund, who had to resign when she took her new position with the Minnesota AFL-CIO.

We're delighted that Jody will be continuing our participation on this important committee - and we congratulate her on her new appointment. (There were 5 AFSCME members from the area who were contending for the vacant slot.)

Jody has held just about every position possible within our own Local, from President (two separate terms), to Treasurer. She's a steward, she's been a trustee, and she's our Local rep to the University's Benefits Advisory Committee (BAC) which is the group that advises the Administration on all matter relating to our Health Care plans and other issues.

Thank you, Jody!

Harris Health Trends Inc. is Phoning UPlan Participants

[04/11/06]: The University has hired Harris Health Trends Inc. to manage the Health Connections aspect of the UPlan. Harris processes the optional wellness evaluations and conducts follow up calls to employees to offer lifestyle coaching based on information given in the survey.

Harris also gleans information from UPlan participants' usage of health services: UPlan Medical benefits, RxAmerica prescriptions, Dental Benefits, Emergency Medical Assistance, Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts, and the Employee Assistance Program.

If you are not interested in wellness coaching and are contacted by a Harris Health Trends representative, just say "no". This is an optional service as part of the UPlan.

All U of M AFSCME are conducting a survey to gauge members' experiences with RxAmerica and Harris Health Trends. If you are interested in filling out a survey you can download a copy here and return to the location on the form, or you can contact the Local 3937 office at 612-379-3933 or

Sandi Sherman from AFSCME Local 3800 had an editorial published in the MN Daily on the UPlan. Read it here, Dr. James Hart, a faculty member in the School of Public Health published a MN Daily affirming Sandi's comments. Read it here (scroll down to letter "The extra effort").

Thank you, Monique!

Monique Paulson, Local 3937 Organizer

[09/12/06]:   We said "Good-bye" to Monique at the end of July, 2006. We knew the time was coming from the day we hired her to help us organize our Local. She was hired in 2003 for 3 months. She stayed for 3 years. And what a time it was!

Monique came on board in 2003 to help us strengthen our internal organizing network. She came at the beginning of our contract campaign for the 03-05 contract. Monique began to make one-on-one visits to the workplace. She worked tirelessly and for hours on end to learn the complicated workplace that is the University of Minnesota. We have three campuses and 980+ workers are scattered amongst all of them, and are out in the counties of Minnesota.

We needed to build our membership to a level that would allow us to negotiate with the University of Minnesota from a position of greater power, and a level that would keep our Local poised for continuous growth and continued communications among our members. Many of our 980+ bargaining unit employees don't even know they work in a unionized workplace.

Monique's work was unbelievably successful!

Starting with our small foundation of stewards and identified activists, her work to create connections between members paid off handsomely during the 2005 negotiations. Monique helped schedule and set the agendas for information meetings all over campus. She sent out notices, e-mails, worked with the internal organizers to create flyers, plan rallies and other actions, and as she did this, she was growing the number of people who thought of themselves as "union activists."

Monique's work shows itself not only in the number of members she's either signed up herself or caused to be signed - but in her work to show us that we are the organizers - that we can ask for cards, can meet new employees, can get information out to our co-workers. She has left us with a much stronger Local and with the energy, enthusiasm and ability to grow and strengthen on our own.

We will miss her terribly! And we want to wish her all the best as she embarks on her new path of learning.

Monique - THANK YOU!!

UNION PICNIC!

[08/01/06]: We had a lot of fun in the park!

The start of the three-legged race, with our stalwart E-Board member Brad Kraling and our Organizer/water-balloon filler Monique Paulson second from left... see that couple in the lower left? That's Candace and Jenny's nephew. They came in second! The prize winners are fourth from left and will have to remain anonymous ... since no one currently in the office recognizes them! Any info out there?

U of M AFSCME Locals 3260, 3800 and 3937 had a great day for our picnic on Saturday, July 22, 2006 at Wabun Park near Minnehaha Falls. The sun was shining, it wasn't too hot, and there were plenty of water balloons to go around. A lot of people took pictures, and as soon as we get them into the computer we'll put together a Picnic Page!

Thanks to all who helped so much - we couldn't have done this without you!!!:

• Ken Holm, Chief Steward and Barbeque Griller Extraordinaire
• Brad Kraling, Executive Board member (St. Paul) and Man-of-all-trades (including three-legged racing and barbeque grilling)
• Lynnette Holm, Lab Animal Care Tech and most patient woman we know
• Monique Paulson, AFSCME Local 3937 Organizer and ace water balloon filler
• Anyone else we've forgotten !!!

New Phone Number for Local Chief Steward

[05/10/06]:  Local 3937 Chief Steward, Ken Holm, can be reached at 651.283.6992 (he is also available at 612.296.3727). Contact information for all stewards is available through the People page of this website.

Congratulations AFSCME Local 3937 Leadership!

The following people were elected to leadership positions within our local at the April membership meeting, and will be sworn into office on May 17, 2006.

President Barbara Bezat
Vice President Chief Steward Ken Holm
Vice President Organizer Jason Iversen
Treasurer Deb Kerben
Secretary Barb Smith

Local 3937 Executive Board:
(2) Health Sciences: Krista Gallagher
(one open seat)
(1) East Bank: Candace Lund
(1) West Bank: (open seat)
(1) St. Paul campus: Brad Kraling
(1) Off campus metro: Fred Pulling
(1) Crookston: (open seat)
(1) Morris: Ron Kubik
(1) Greater Minnesota: (open seat)

All terms are two years except for trustees:

Trustees: Mary Austin (3 year )
Jody Ebert (2 year)
(Beth Wolzon is on second year of 3 year term)

Please contact the local office if you are interested in filling one of the open seats on the executive board.

Questions about the July 19, 2006 Paychecks?

We've received some questions from people about the July 19th paycheck, and especially about the lump sum.

You want to make sure that you are eligible for that lump sum - if you are employed and receiving a paycheck on July 1, 2006 you are eligible. As well, if your appointment percentage is below 100%, you will receive a pro-rated amount (based on the $300).

If you are on unpaid leave, or if your appointment is less than 12 month and you are out during the summer, you will receive your lump sum when you return to work.

If none of those scenarios fits your situation, and if you believe you were eligible for the lump sum payment, the next thing you should do is get in touch with your departmental payroll contact. S/he is likely to be the most helpful person for resolving this.

If none of this works - get back in touch with us and we'll do our best to help you!

Photo by Ahn Na Brodie

Voices in the Workplace: The Economics of Working at the University of Minnesota

In January 2005, union represented employee groups sent an economic survey to their memberships. Voices in the Workplace shares workers' responses to the survey and tells the stories of the economic reality for many workers at the U of M.

Visit the Voices in the Workplace webpage