May 13, 2009

Negotiations Update – MGEC began negotiations with the State May 8^th.  State employees are working hard to complete more work than ever and yet are also underpaid, based on the 2008 Compensation Survey.  With a full appreciation for the state’s current economic crisis, MGEC made bargaining proposals that would start to close the compensation gap, to better enable employees to manage work and leave times, to maximize health incentives for work productivity and to provide incentives for those nearing retirement.   Overall, proposals were balanced with cost savings means to pay for them by: 1) providing employees more time to use compensatory time instead of the employer having pay it out, 2) requiring private consultant wages match and not exceed state employee wages during this economic crisis and 3) encouraging early retirement resulting in lower paid replacement employees and providing promotional opportunities incenting and rewarding good work.  The employer’s interest in most proposals was minimal.  Their objective seemed to be to come to a voluntary agreement, to do so quickly, and that the agreement match a pattern of terms and condition they have established with other bargaining units.  The state’s initial economic offer to MGEC cuts pay for state employees.  A summary of the state’s initial economic offer follows.  Bargaining continues May 14, 2009.

Wages – 0% for 7/1/2009 & 7/1/2010

Progression Steps – no steps either year (36% of state employees represented by MGEC are eligible for steps in 2009 and 29% are eligible in 2010)

Deferred Compensation – the elimination of the $300 per year of employer matching funds

What can you do?  Join other state employees in contacting your agency commissioner and legislators and insist they give serious consideration to cost saving measures offered by employees.

Vacation Cap Reminder – Once per fiscal year, each employee must get their vacation balance down to 275 hours.  If they do not, on June 30, 2009 they lose any vacation hours above 275 hours.  Use them, don’t lose them.  In some circumstances, where the employer does not want the employee to use vacation time during the coming months, through 6-30-2009, due to work needs, the employer agrees to extend the period of time the employee has to get below the cap.  Such extensions need to be worked out in advance between the employee, the employee’s supervisor, agency, MMB and MGEC.  If you are unable to get below the cap, please consider donating some of your vacation to those in medical need through the state’s vacation donation program.

Legislative Activity

Join the efforts of state employees in other bargaining units.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J22X29sW2io&feature=channel_page

Lights On - Remember when the state shut down in 2005? Senate DFL leaders have already taken precautionary measures to prevent a repeat. On May 11 the Senate passed a “lights on” bill 45 to 19 as requested by AFSCME. It would keep government services running. The “lights on” bill would fund government services at current levels through July 1, 2010. Please call your legislators and ask them to support a “lights on” bill. Tell them that public employees shouldn’t be pawns in another shutdown showdown. For your legislator’s name and number, call the House at 1-800-657-3550 and the Senate at 1-888-234-1112.

Retirement Incentive for State Employees Passes Senate - Many state employees are thinking they’d love to retire, if only they had health insurance. Well, the Minnesota Senate passed a bill this week that would offer state employees three years of health insurance if they retire before July 15, 2011. To be eligible, employees need 15 years of service to the State of Minnesota, MnSCU or the U of M. The state would pay the employer’s share of the health and dental premium for the employee and the employee’s dependents, if the employee had dependent coverage immediately before retirement. It’s a good deal that could also mitigate layoffs. Credit is due to the authors: Senators Tom Bakk and Jim Vickerman, and Representatives Lyn Carlson and Tom Rukavina. Read the bill. Please contact your legislators and ask them to support the early retirement incentive for state employees and to include the language from Senate File 1679 in the final bill. To find your legislators, call the House at 1-800-657-3550 and the Senate at 1-888-234-1112.

MGEC representatives address transportation issues in D.C.  John Siekmeier, MGEC Vice President, and Dana Wheeler attended the 10^th annual meeting of the National Association of State Highway Transportation Unions (NASHTU).  MGEC was honored to be asked to introduce Senator Klobuchar to the NASHTU participants, who welcomed her support.  Additional meetings were held between MGEC and congressional staff.  Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood addressed the conference reporting that 200,000 jobs were created in transportation with the last stimulus bill.  A follow up meeting will occur with him to address cost efficiencies to maximize the outcome of this funding.  Meetings were held with representatives from several other elected officials.  Most informative was a meeting held with Bill Richards, Chief of Staff for Representative Jim Oberstar, Chair of the Transportation Committee, who suggested the next authorization of funds for transportation would be as much as $1/2 trillion dollars over the next six years.  The bill, being written now, should be addressed by the House and Senate in July and August.  Additional revenue is needed with the two most discussed sources being a gas tax increase or the introduction of the Vehicle Mileage Tax (VMT) in the near future.  The bills will seek to redesign the funding structures for transportation focusing on four major formula programs:

1)    Critical Asset preservation – maintain highways and bridges

2)    Highway Safety Improvement – Railroad Safety, Motorcycle Safety, Railroad Crossing

3)   Surface Transportation Programs – Enhancement  to 10% set-aside, sub-allocations based on population

4)   Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement – 15% of highway miles in urban areas, 50% of VMT.

State and local jurisdictions would have greater discretion to determine where and how to use the funds.  They would be asked to create criteria by which the projects would be measured and report on progress.  Expenditures should be “transparent.”  MGEC shared concerns that necessary components of the bills include requirements to, “get the most bang for the buck” criteria and address inspection and quality measures with public sector employees whose undisputed focus is for public safety without the distractions that come from the private sector employers’ need to also generate profit.  At this point in time, more work needs to be done to ensure these criteria are included in federal and state mandates.  For related information go to: http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/05/big-bucks-and-big-ideas-for-big-transportation-bill

On the subject of oversight of road builders check out the audit report from Wisconsin: http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/localblogs/450804

If you are interested becoming more engaged in MGEC's interaction with our federal and state elected officials please consider participating in MGEC's Legislative Committee

H1N1 Flu – A Message from the State.  Minnesota Management & Budget Commissioner Tom Hanson writes, "This situation is highly fluid as details from many locations are emerging. This new swine influenza virus is made up of components of pig, bird and human influenza viruses that are combined in a way that has not been seen before. The fact that it seems to have sustained human-to-human spread is concerning. This is a situation that we are all watching very closely. At the end of this memo, you will find a list of websites and resources for more information about what is discussed. Over the past few years, state agencies, like many other public and private employers throughout Minnesota and the country, have been planning for the possibility of a flu pandemic. While a pandemic does not currently exist, with the new situations surrounding Swine Influenza Infection, it is prudent to be calm yet vigilant. Many of the services we deliver are directly related to the well being of Minnesota citizens and must continue during any emergency situation including a possible pandemic. To fulfill these obligations, it is critical that state employees are individually prepared, healthy and able to report to work. With this expectation in mind we would like to provide information to you on steps you can do now to prepare yourself and family for any emergency."

 1.  Plan in advance – make back-up child, elder adult and/or pet care arrangements

2.   Practice good health hygiene.  Wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health and if you are ill, stay home. Cover your cough and avoid people who are ill.

3.    Education – take a ½ hour to review the program for state employees on titled “Pandemic – Ready. Set. Respond.”  Because this educational program covers employment expectations during a pandemic, it should be viewed by all employees including those employees that have already been provided with some level of pandemic awareness education. Access to the training can be found at: http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/preparedness.

 4.  Communication - a lot of information is floating around. Not all of it is accurate. It’s important that you are provided with accurate and timely information. An emergency website that will provide employees with updated information about the Human Swine Flu, guidance and recommendations to employees on steps they can take to prepare and respond to this situation, and an area of Frequently Asked Questions. As always, employees can contact their direct supervisor with questions or concerns.

List of Resources Individual and Family Readiness:
www.codeready.org
www.ready.gov

Swine Flu Information:
Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
Minnesota Department of Health: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/flu/swine/index.html

Pandemic Influenza Education: Pandemic-Ready, Set, Respond: http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/preparedness

Notice to Employees with Dependent Medical and/or Dental Insurance - Please be reminded of the need to inform the Employee Insurance Division of any graduations for dependents that are ages 19 through 24.  Employees with graduating dependents must complete a Basic Application or a Dependent Change Form to secure COBRA insurance options for their graduate.  Insurance coverage will continue through the end of the month in which the student has completed their course work, not the month in which they participate in a graduation ceremony. 

The form indicating that the graduation will or has occurred must be completed and submitted to the Employee Insurance Division within 60-days of the graduation to ensure that your dependent is offered COBRA continuation coverage.  If notification is not received within the proper timeframe, the opportunity to continue coverage will be lost.

Please note, if your dependent has graduated and they have enrolled in a new course of study to begin in the fall, they still need to be cancelled from the medical and dental insurance so that the COBRA coverage can be offered due to the qualified event.  Students, who successfully return to another full-time course of study after the summer off, may apply for coverage retroactive to graduation for summer coverage once they have successfully returned to school.  While this process seems cumbersome, it is critical to have the COBRA offer made at the appropriate time.  There have been instances where a graduate, planning to return to school in the fall, was unable to do so because of an illness.  Unfortunately, they lost their opportunity for COBRA continuation coverage just when they needed it the most.

If you have questions about student eligibility or graduation, please contact Human Resources or the Employee Insurance Division at 651-355-0100. 

Wellness Opportunities – MGEC will continue to pursue the development of incentives for improving employee health.  This is a priority for the health of our members and as a cost savings to their insurance program.  Meanwhile current activities are available to employees.

MnDOT is hosting a Capitol walk, commuter challenge and health fair on May 20. These events are open to all state employees. Please plan to promote this so we can max out attendance. Any agency is also able to contribute to the health fair. Contact Lynn.Frank@state.mn.us for more info. 

The MnDOT Biggest Loser campaign which ran 12 weeks over 4 holidays (if you include the SuperBowl!) The cost was $12. 61 of 800 employees in their building participated and 282 pounds were lost. It was so popular that they will repeat it soon.

There is an exciting JourneyWell program change effective May 1, 2009 - employees (benefit eligible on or before October 2, 2008) who have completed the health assessment are now eligible to enroll in one phone based and any online program by September 7, 2009. This change expands the online program enrollment from one program to three. The three online programs available are: 10,000 Steps(r), Stress Management eProgram or Weight Management eProgram.  As you work with employees, we encourage you to announce this change. Four JourneyWell links are listed at the end of this e-mail to help with wellness initiatives in your agency. The best ways for employees to access JourneyWell online are as follows:

   *www.journeywell.com/SEGIP
   *www.advantagehealthadvisors.com , click on Take My Personal Health Assessment

In addition, you or employees can call JourneyWell customer service at:
   *Twin Cities Metro: 952-967-5128
   *Outstate MN toll-free:  1-866-977-5128
   *TTY toll-free line:  1-877-222-2794