Go to Local 1501 meetings

Go to region and local officers

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

T. Juan’s Restaurant
Bemidji, MN
5:00pm

Attendance: Doug Sloan (Pres), Joann Gardner (Vice Pres), Nate Dorr (Sec), LIST EACH FROM SIGN IN SHEET, Bob Haag, Mr. Wyatt, Rick Nelson, John Hagge???

1. Call to Order at 5:15pm
2. Introductions of Members
3. Budget update
   1. As of Aug 19th  our budget was $5,322
   2. Membership rate was 74.9%
4. Approval of Minutes from last meeting
5. New officers
   1. Doug Sloan, President
   2. Mona Dagestad, Treasurer
   3. Nate Dorr, Secretary
   4. Joann Gardner, Vice President
6. Delegate Assembly
   1. Sept 19-20th, 2008 in St. Paul
   2. Representing our Local is Nate Dorr and Doug Sloan
   3. Reps will review and be ready to vote
   4. Discussion on building pay off using strike fund dollars
      1. Bob Haag – Discussed the crisis fund of $3Million + in case of a strike, and our line of credit.  If the pay off occurred, our line of credit would be held in the building.  Paying off the debt on the building in Shoreview would save interest payments of mortgage.  The analysts’ predict this pay off in terms of interest savings and interest earnings from savings would “be a wash”. 
   5. Bob discussed the general flow of the Delegate Assembly. 
   6. $35 million surplus over what was expected from change in insurance to Navitus and other health insurance options.  Discussion about preventive care in cost savings.  We are facing a $2.5 Billion deficit at the state level, so the union coalition (made up of all state employee unions) is distributing the surplus to members $250 per member into a health savings plan (rollover, not use it or loose it), available January 2009.  Also 10.5% increase in premiums, but reduced to 3.5% increase was negotiated.  Lastly, looking at a voluntary program where members would own their own medical records.  Information is in the latest “Leadership Newsletter” from MAPE dated August 2008.
   7. Delegate representatives are trusted to make their best judgement.
7. Grassroots e-mails, steps, annual increases, employee rights
   1. Bob Haag discussed the e-mails and handed out contract raise contemplations computation sheet, the Employee Rights Overview power point slides, and another hand out.  The point is to realign e-mails (which may be overzealous) with the facts as MAPE staffers know.  Steps and annual increases were explained, and compared to CPI and insurance employer-paid increases.  Strike in 1980s against the flat rate increase for insurance now shows benefits, and MAPE would need to fight each year for real dollar increases.  Supreme Court ruled recently that employee pay out of vacation time or severance pay is not mandatory for the employer.
8. Rick Nelson encourages members to review resolutions under consideration for the upcoming Delegate Assembly on the MAPE website (http://www.mape.org/ )
   1. Encouraged to look at MAPE website for input and resolutions.  Contact Doug or Nate for local input to Delegate Assembly.
   2. Board meetings every month rather than every 6 weeks.
   3. Decrease membership dues?
   4. Make sure election rules are followed.
   5. Charity issues
   6. Hiring of Business Agents for Grand Rapids, St. Cloud, and Rochester.
   7. Employee health insurance, FMLA, vacation rollover, etc are negotionable items.
   8. State use of email for MAPE business.  Do not use for recruiting or electoral activities, only for announcements.
   9. Forward any issues to Rick.
   10. City of Cass Lake is now in our region.
9. MAPE Budget Taskforce Report - Joann
   1. $2.5 Billion deficit projected in the next biennium for State.
   2. Discussion on conversation with MAPE lobbyist.  Legislators know there is waste in State government, while State leaders continue to ask for more money for their departments.  Members are encouraged to report violations of higher ups and other employees if not available to all members.  We are asked to help the State cut waste through our reporting. 
   3. Interactive form on the MAPE website to submit waste.  If not done anonymously, members will likely not report due to the repercussions of department officials.
10. Building pay off
    1. Discussion favored paying off the building to save money.
11. Next meeting date is set for Tuesday October 28th.
    1. Will be confirmed via e-mail from Doug Sloan.
12. Future business
    1. Turkey distribution and recruiting
    2. Update from the Delegate Assembly by Doug and Nate
13. Meeting adjourned at 6:35pm