February 13, 2009

This update contains a lot of information.  Keys topics covered include the following:

Ø      Insurance Negotiation Update
Ø      Legislative Town Hall Meetings
Ø      Alarming Legislation
Ø      Minnesota Budget Discussion Websites
Ø      Employee Responsibility for Knowledge of Statewide Policies

Members encouraged to take and active role.  President Peter Buchen (left) encourages all Executive Board Members to set goals for their time on the board.  He and the board call upon members to take an active role in accomplishing the work of MGEC.  MGEC will continue to seek member input and ask that members get the word out by contacting local media and elected officials.

Insurance Negotiations – The unions and state will exchange opening proposals soon.  Members can complete an MGEC insurance bargaining survey by requesting the survey link from MGEC at mgec@mgec.org.  Members should already have received the link by e-mail.
                                                    

Legislative Town Hall Meetings - A Call To Speak Out - MGEC strongly encourages members to attend legislative town hall meetings.  Minnesota has the 10th leanest state government and most productive.  Lawmakers will be visiting communities around the state to get input on the governor’s budget recommendations and listen to the public’s ideas to address the state’s $4.8 billion budget deficit for the next biennium.
  

The Greater Minnesota meetings will take place on Thursday, Feb. 19, and Friday, Feb. 20:

Below are metro area town hall meetings (time and date for the Forest Lake
meeting has yet to be determined):

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New Board Members Rachel Guan and Linda Taylor

Alarming Legislation – Wage freeze, elimination of collective bargaining for period 7/1/09 to 6/30/11.  MGEC members need to speak out.  Let’s be honest, few of us take the time to contact our representatives or write a letter to the editor.  But the time has come when we must make an effort to do so.  The following legislation (text below), has been introduced as House File 586 authored by Rep. Drazkowski with companion Senate File 372 without a chief author, are attacks on your livelihood and right to bargain.  Please contact your representative with your objections to these bills.  If we don’t speak out, just go below to read what will happen to your employment future.

Comments can be brief and to the point.  Address specific provisions of the bill.  Tell them what services you provide for the state.  Ask for them to join you in valuing the work done for all Minnesotans and end public employee bashing.  Legislators are public servants too who also work long hours and many days.  Share your appreciation for their service with them.  Suggest that all citizens should share responsibility for paying for the state budget deficit.  There’s no reason public employees should bear more of the burden.  Ask why the governor or legislators aren’t calling also for private sector employers, who do work for the state, and freezing their wages?  Ask why the state often chooses higher priced work from contractors instead of saving money having state employees do more work.  Direct them to the MGEC website at www.mgec.org and the brochure, Doing More for Minnesota! at that site.

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How do I let a Representative or Senator know how I feel about an issue?  One way is to call your legislator's office. (Phone numbers for representatives or senators.)  E-mail is a second method.  E-mail is most effective if it is not a blanket mailing to all members, but a specific mail message to your representative or senator. (Find out who represents you.) When sending an e-mail, remember to include your name, postal address and phone number. (E-mail addresses for representatives or senators.) The best way to get a legislator's attention is with a short, well-reasoned letter. Here are a few do's and don'ts on how to write an effective letter to your representative:

Do . . .

• Be brief; never write more than one page.
• Make your letter neat and easy to read (type or print).
• Make sure you understand the legislative process.
• Identify the issue at the top of the letter and cover only one issue per letter. If you have more than one issue that needs to be addressed, write separate letters for each issue.
• Remember; you're the expert; make your letter informative.
• Identify yourself and the reason for your expertise.
• Get right to the point. For example, you may wish to begin your letter like this: "I hope you will support (oppose) HF or SF ___." Give your reasons for supporting or opposing the measure. Tell your legislator why you think the bill, if it becomes law, will help or hurt you, your children, your business, or your community. Explain what it means to you.
• Use terms they will understand and avoid using abbreviations.
• Offer to be of assistance. Offer to testify if there is a hearing regarding the issue with which you're concerned.
• Ask for a reply if you want one. However, keep in mind how many meetings and hearings your legislator must attend. They will call or write to you as soon as they are able.
• Be polite and reasonable. Lawmakers can't please everyone. They may disagree with you. Try to respect their views. Don't lose your temper, even on paper. Tell your legislator what you think and why, but be polite.
• And finally, be sure to say "thanks."

Don't . . .

• Don't use form letters or post cards. Use your own words. Legislators say, "I'd rather get one short, simple, handwritten letter than a hundred form letters that organizations urge people to write. The letters come in stacks 300 deep. Even if they're handwritten, they're word for word the same." Also, use personal or business stationery, or a plain sheet of paper.
• Don't threaten legislators. Legislators say, "Some folks don't know how you stand on an issue, but they'll attack you right off the bat. They'll say, 'Vote for HF ____ or else,' and you may already think it's a wonderful idea. Or they'll write, 'Why aren't you supporting this bill, you fool?' and you're the sponsor of the bill. Threats and insults don't work."

This is the proper way to address your letter:
Representative (their last name) / Senator (their last name)
Minnesota House of Representatives / Minnesota Senate
Room # State Office Building / Room # Capitol Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155-1298

The salutation should read "Dear Representative _________:" or "Dear Senator _________:"  Specific addresses for members of the Minnesota House of Representatives and members of the Minnesota Senate are included in member profiles.

Here are a few more tips:

• Make an appointment. It's best to let your legislator know when you're going to be at the Capitol so he or she can arrange to spend some time with you.  Call or write.
• If you're calling about a specific piece of legislation, find out the House or Senate file number and status before you contact your legislator.  For help, call House Index at (651) 296-6646.

For a link to your state district go to:
http://www.gis.leg.mn/mapserver/districts/index.html

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Minnesota Budget Discussion Websites – The Senate & House have websites you may go to contribute your ideas on the state budget.

http://budgetforum.senate.mn/  
        
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/budgetsuggestions.asp

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Employee Responsibility for Knowledge of Statewide Policies - The following memo came from the Dept. of Labor & Industry.  MGEC has seen multiple disciplines where the employer holds employees accountable for every word of each policy.  Employees often believe they know what the policies say.  I also often hear from employees that aspects of a given policies are not enforced (example – employees having music playing programs such as iTunes downloaded on their computer).  That excuse has not sufficed and employee discipline has stood.  So, take some time to review policies you are asked to be accountable to.  Ask questions when the practice doesn’t meet the policy.  Let MGEC know of discrepancies between policy and practice. 

Dept. of Labor & Industry Annual department policy review - January 2009 - I have read the following DLI policies and procedures, and acknowledge my understanding of these policies. In addition, I have read the applicable state of Minnesota policies.

Human Resources policies
Alcohol and other drug use
A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction (AWAIR) program
Code of conduct
Discrimination and sexual harassment
Emergency office-closure
Emergency procedures
General harassment
Mail
Security access/photo I.D. badge
Sick leave (statewide policy)
Training and employee development
Web-based training
Workplace smoking
Zero-tolerance for workplace violence

Information resource management policies
Computer virus
Electronic document and e-mail retention
Electronic mail
Internet
Mobile computing and data access
Technology management
Telecommunications

Financial Services policies and procedures
Cellular device policy:  Blackberries and cell phones
  – Acknowledgement of receipt form:  Cellular device services and equipment
In-state travel
Membership in professional organizations
Out-of-state and/or international travel
Overtime approval procedure
Rental car
State vehicle

Employee signature:____________________________________  Date:_____________
Supervisor signature:___________________________________   Date:_____________
DLI polices are located on the intranet at http://dlinet.state.mn.us/policies.html; the statewide policies are located on the Minnesota Management & Budget Web site at www.mmb.state.mn.us/policies-state.

Supervisors should collect completed forms and deliver them to Human Resources by April 20.

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