PAGE 6 PAGE 6 - AFSCME Council 5

One strOng, united vOice

fOr MinnesOta wOrkers

American Federation of State, County and Municipal

Employees, AFL-CIO

No Budget, No Peace

Molly Davis rallies with her father, Pete Davis, of Corrections Local 1539/Rush City, urging legislators to get their job done.

Locals Stand Up to Bullying

Sheila Lipsco, Hennepin County Social Services Local 34, shares stories during a Council 5 training on bullying in the workplace.

Local 1692’s Keith Kieffer, who works at Whitewater State Park, is among DNR members who help create happy campers.

volume 6, no. 3 May-June 2011

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We Make Summer Happen

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2 • S t e p p i n g U p • m ay – j U n e 2 0 11 • www.afscmemn.org

If the republican majorities fail to compromise with gov. Mark dayton on a budget deal, state government will shut down July 1, putting up to 36,000 state employees out of work.

preventing the largest layoff in minnesota history should be the top priority for politicians who promised jobs. But it’s not. some republicans have joked that shutting down for the summer will show taxpayers that they don’t really need government.

Others say a shutdown would save money. they better think again. Layoffs aren’t cheap – and they ruin lives.

the republican majorities want to use state employees as pawns in their cynical political game. their staff created a betting pool on how long the state will shut down. How dare they bet on how long our families can survive without a paycheck!

they want to lock us out of work and threaten our livelihoods. they hope that going without a paycheck will force us to pressure gov. dayton to settle with them on their terms. we can’t fall into that trap. if the governor caves to their cuts, yes, we will return to work. But we will return to piles of pink slips waiting for thousands of state, local government, higher education and health-care workers. the services we deliver, our jobs, and our communities will be gutted.

to avoid a shutdown and risky cuts to public services, we’re backing gov. dayton’s budget compromise. while his budget is painful for us, it is not lethal like the republican cuts.

the governor’s compromise balances $1.8 billion in spending reductions with $1.8 billion in new revenue. By asking the richest 2 percent to pay their fair share, gov. dayton’s plan will protect 98 percent of us from paying a penny more in taxes.

His compromise budget increases spending for k-12 education, which is essential for our children’s success and our future prosperity. it protects seniors

and the most vulnerable Minnesotans from losing health care and their ability to live at home.

from the playground to the boardroom, real people understand that no one ever gets exactly what they want all the time. republican leaders in the state Legislature need to learn that lesson. gov. dayton shouldn’t call them back into session until they’re ready to meet him halfway.

republicans say they have a “no new taxes” mandate from the voters. But they need to acknowledge that dayton also won an election, promising to “tax the rich.” expecting him to bow to their demands isn’t reasonable. a recent minnesota poll shows that a strong majority – 63 percent – prefer a mixture of tax increases and spending cuts. Only 27 percent prefer a

cuts-only budget.

it’s time for citizens to tell republicans to compromise. it’s time to ask republicans why they are so intent on protecting the rich at the expense of everybody else. it’s time to care about nursing home residents, the elderly, disabled adults and others who are able to live on their own because our taxes give them a hand.

raising our voices together as one Minnesota can prevent or end a shutdown. Our ground

campaign and television ads are targeting 26 legislators. to win the budget battle, we need to convince six republican representatives and four republican senators to tax the richest 2 percent. afscMe phone banks, lit drops and in-district meetings will encourage our neighbors to ask our state legislators to tax the richest 2 percent to avoid a shutdown and risky cuts to public services.

we do our jobs. we will give legislators no peace until they do their job.

eliot seide executive director

Mike Buesing, presidentEliot Seide, executive director

information and story ideas should be submitted to: Michael Kuchta, editor

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O f f I C E R S President Mike Buesing, Local 221 Vice President Judy wahlberg, Local 66 Treasurer Clifford poehler, Local 2938 Secretary mary Falk, Local 4001

E x E C u T I V E B OA R Djeff Birttnen, Local 517, County Sector

paul Bissen, Local 868, District 3 (South)Leon Bowman, Local 945, District 3 (South)

Carmen Brown, Local 977, District 6 (West metro)Kevin Clark, Local 4001, State Sector

jean Diederich, Local 34, District 6 (West metro)jody ebert, Local 3937, District 6 (West metro)

john ewaldt, Local 8, District 5 (east metro)gerald Firkus, Local 3887, District 1 (northeast)

Steve Fitze, Local 1164, private/Special Sectorkaren foreman, Local 638, state sectordennis frazier, Local 66, county sectorduane gatzke, Local 2829, state sector

jim gaylord, Local 66, District 1 (northeast) pat guernsey, Local 552, District 5 (east metro)jen guertin, Local 2508, District 5 (east metro)

sebrina Hegg, Local 761, state sector John Hillyard, Local 600, state sectorJoann Holton, Local 607, state sector

Roger janzig, Local 668, private/Special SectorKimberly johnson, Local 753, District 4 (Central) mike Lindholt, Local 221, District 6 (West metro)

Robin madsen, Local 1842, City Sectorjohn magnuson, Local 1574, District 4 (Central)

Molly Malecki, Local 2822, county sectormike nelson, Local 2829, District 6 (West metro)

nickson nyankabaria, Local 3532, District 6 (West metro )Kevin Olson, Local 701, District 2 (West)

melinda pearson, Local 4001, District 5 (east metro)mike Rumppe, Local 9, District 5 (east metro)

monica Shockency, Local 56, K-12 Sectorwillie snyder, Local 707, county sector

Dean Steiner, Local 735, State Sectordeb strohm, Local 66, city sector

sue urness, Local 66, district 1 northeastWes Volkenant, Local 34, County Sectorphyllis Walker, Local 3800, U of m Sectortamera weller, Local 607, state sector

Bryce Wickstrom, Local 221, District 5 (east metro)

aFSCme Council 5 is a union of 43,000 workers who provide the vital services that make Minnesota

happen. we advocate for excellence in public services, dignity in the workplace, and prosperity and

opportunity for all working families.

Executive Board Members 2010-2012

(elected September 2010)

sett ing tHe Pace

Tax the Richest 2%Avoid a Shutdown and Risky Cuts

Get involvedto help out in afscMe’s “we want to work for Minnesota” campaign, volunteer to make calls, distribute literature, and meet with your state legislators. contact a political organizer in your area:

Metro: jon grebner, 651-287-0587

Southern Minnesota: Laura askelin, 651-287-0586

Northern Minnesota: chelsa nelson, 218-726-9607

www.afscmemn.org • m ay – j u n e 2 0 11 • S t e p p i n g u p • 3

walking our talk

Judy Carlson knew she hit a nerve. At last year’s Council 5 convention, more than 200

members enrolled in her training on workplace bullying. It was the first time any workshop drew a bigger crowd than the retirement seminar.

Bullying on the job is universal, Carlson says. It poisons workplaces, ruins careers, destroys health, and crushes individuals. Women are targets, but so are men. Carlson has helped locals deal with bullying just about anywhere AFSCME has members: cities, counties, colleges, and state agencies – including Human Services, MnDOT and the Department of Corrections.

To help members fight back, Carlson teaches a “train the trainer” class so local leaders, stewards and activists can help members confront bullying in their workplaces head-on.

Union must expose the problem

It’s a two-step process. First, the local educates members about what bullying is. That creates a safe place to talk about the abusive behavior. Then, the training encourages locals to find ways for workers to stand together to solve the problem where they work.

Carlson’s classes at Council 5 have filled up within days. She is also taking the training directly into locals in the Twin Cities, in the suburbs, in Duluth, Mankato, Owatonna, Rochester, Willmar, Winona, and elsewhere.

Carlson’s approach is simple: Confront the bully to stop the behavior. The most effective way, she’s found, is to mobilize workers to deal with the problem together. “It’s about empowerment, personally and collectively,” she says. “It’s about building the union, and acting as a union to shine a light on the problem.”

Finding a method that works

It’s nearly impossible for individuals who are the target of bullies to fight back on their own, Carlson says. “There is no easy solution. But when you stand up individually and collectively, when you identify the tactics, when you put a name to it, it’s easier to fight it.”

Some locals have had some success by working through labor-management committees, or utilizing existing policies that cover respectful

workplaces, discrimination or harassment. “Anything that puts it on the table is good,” Carlson says. “If a labor-management process works for you, do it.”

But, overall, Carlson is skeptical of that approach. “My experience is, there are places where we’ve been going to management for years and nothing really happens. Management doesn’t like to deal with it. Or they come up with a policy that doesn’t have any teeth.”

Education, then action

Carlson’s approach relies more on direct action. It helps members recognize the tactics that bullies rely on (see article at top right). It gives advice on documenting the behavior. It helps members realize how bullying affects them. Then it moves members to do something about it.

“Not everyone knows they’re being bullied,” Carlson says. Some of the tactics are very subtle. Some bullies act only when there are no witnesses. Sometimes, bullies deliberately isolate

targets from their co-workers, or turn workers against each other. Sometimes there’s a fine line between a bully and a demanding boss with tough, but reasonable, expectations.

Bullying is often a problem when there’s a power imbalance between the bully and the target. But sometimes the bully is a co-worker. “We have to be willing to deal with that, too,” Carlson says. “Bullying is unacceptable behavior regardless of who’s doing it.”

Putting health at risk

Targets can suffer a huge range of physical and mental health issues, Carlson says. The worst thing a target can do is decide they can live with it. “That’s not an option,” she says. “It’s only going to get worse.”

In the end, she says, targets have only two options: “You can get out, or you can take your power back. It’s a lot easier to do that when you build solidarity and do it as a group.” n

Stand Up for YourselfCouncil 5 training helps locals confront bullies on the job

Tactics a bully usesRefuses to recognize a target’s accomplishments, or undermines them

Destroys target’s self-confidence by constantly criticizing performance

Makes unreasonable job demands, sabotages target’s ability to do the job

Steals credit for work the target does

Plays favorites, applies rules inconsistently

gives target the silent treatment

Denies the target necessary resources and information

Screams, has angry outbursts, threatens job loss, or uses other means of fear and intimidation

Belittles or insults target, embarrasses target publicly, breaches confidentiality

Presents one “face” to target, a different “face” to others

Judy Carlson, education director for Council 5: “When you are being bullied, it’s very easy to lose perspective. If you decide to live with it, it will only get worse.”

legislation that defines an “abusive work environment” and offers legal remedies for employees who are targets of bullying has been introduced in the minnesota Senate – in part because of years of effort by priscilla pope, of university of minnesota technical local 3937.

pope has been working on the

issue since 2008, when she interned with gary and ruth namie at the workplace Bullying institute. pope is a state coordinator for the institute and the institute’s Health Workplaces initiative.

She and co-coordinator jill jensen persuaded DFl senators ron latz and Scott Dibble to introduce the

bill (SF 1352) in may. the legislation is intended to raise awareness and prompt employers to establish policies that deal with workplace bullies, pope says. “this could help a wide range of people. typically, employers ignore it or make things worse,” she says.

pope notes that anti-discrimination

and anti-harassment laws have had some success. But, she says, only by addressing bullying can you get to the root of those behaviors as well.

pope is also working with her local and with u of m Clerical local 3800 to propose “respectful workplace” language in this year’s contract negotiations with the university.

Local 3937 member pushes state legislation to fight ‘abusive work environment’

“We sit down with administration every month and talk about the same person,” says Shawnice Reid, Hennepin County Social Services Local 34.

“We deal with it daily,” says Graeme Jury, Rush City Corrections Local 1539.


What Legislature proposed Impose 2-year pay freeze,

beginning July 1. No step increases or bonuses allowed.

What it means: Undermines collective bargaining. Means state workers go 4 straight years without pay raise. When combined with proposed increases in health insurance and pension costs, it would make many AFSCME members eligible for food stamps.

Result: Vetoed by Gov. Dayton.

“Withhold” 5 percent of pay beginning July 1.

What it means: Undermines collective bargaining. Employees

get full pay only if supervisor gives a satisfactory performance review.

Result: Legislature forbids any pay raise (including step increases) unless supervisor verifies satisfactory performance. Vetoed by Gov. Dayton.

Impose 2-year wage freeze on all public school employees; outlaw economic strikes by school employees.

What it means: Undermines collective bargaining and local control.

Result: Wage freeze blocked before becoming law. Remaining provisions vetoed by Gov. Dayton.

Eliminate existing state health insurance. Replace it with high-deductible plan.

What it means: Undermines collective bargaining. Requires state workers to pay entire premium – up to $7,200 per year for family coverage. Workers also pay $4,000 more out-of-pocket before insurance pays a dime.

Result: Legislature votes to cut $90 million in state contribution to state employee health care plan. Vetoed by Gov. Dayton.

Freeze the state’s defined-benefit pension plan, beginning July 1.

What it means: Undermines collective bargaining. Only vested employees could participate, but they would gain no additional service credits. New employees would not receive a defined-benefit pension.

Result: Blocked before becoming law.

Shift most of the cost for state’s existing defined-benefit pension plan away from employer onto workers.

What it means: Undermines collective bargaining. Instead of

paying half of pension costs, workers would pay 75 percent – the equivalent of a 3 percent pay cut.


“Reform” existing state pension. Prohibit public employers from contributing to 401(k)-style defined contribution retirement plan.

What it means: Undermines collective bargaining. Could eliminate any retirement plan for public employees.


Mary Albert, Local 3400, Child Care Providers Together, keeps an eye on a tax hearing.

wages

insurance, pension

catering to the rich

other

paRaDing OUR values

the 2011 Legislature failed to get its job done. It failed to meet Gov. Mark Dayton halfway to reach a budget deal. Instead of raising taxes on the richest 2 percent, the Republican majorities want the other 98 percent of us to pay the price. They pursued an all-cuts budget that eliminates 30,000 jobs, raises property taxes by $1 billion, and creates risky cuts to services.

Without a special session that enacts a budget deal, there will be a state government shutdown on July 1. As many as 36,000 state workers could be out of a job – the largest layoff in state history. A domino effect could throw thousands of others out of work in construction, in county and local governments, in school districts, and in health care.

Through rallies and one-on-one lobbying, AFSCME members fought at the Capitol. Members in DHS, DNR, DOC and DOT were a daily presence. These pages summarize some of the most toxic legislation we fought through efforts at the Legislature, in the field, and because we helped elect Mark Dayton governor. His veto pen had plenty of ink to protect us.

Terri Allen, Corrections Local 3607/faribault, joined hundreds of AfSCME, MAPE and the Inter faculty Organization members chanting at legislators on the last night of session: “We get our jobs done, why can’t you?”

State shutdown?To keep up to date on what to expect, and how to prepare, visit www.afscmemn.org.

Cut income taxes.What it means: Force additional

cuts to vital services; add inequity to tax system (richest 10 percent get tax cut of $415 per year; poorest 10 percent get tax cut of 87 cents per year).

Result: Eliminated in conference committee.

Cut corporate property taxes; phase out corporate franchise tax.

What it means: Squeeze budgets of school districts and local units of government; force homeowners to pick up more of the tab.

Result: Legislature gradually eliminates state property taxes on businesses and cabins. Vetoed by Gov. Dayton.

Cut corporate income taxes.What it means: Increase state’s

budget deficit by $200 million, force additional cuts to public services that people depend on.

Result: Eliminated in conference committee.

Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

What it means: Like attempts to weaken collective bargaining, this proposal restricts individual rights and freedoms.

Result: Proposal bypasses governor, goes directly to 2012 ballot.

Extremely partisan redistricting map for Congressional and legislative elections.

What it means: Easier elections for legislators unfriendly to public services and workers.

Result: Vetoed by Gov. Dayton; new district maps will be drawn by courts.

Requiring current photo ID to vote.

What it means: Eliminates same-day voter registration; reduces voter participation, especially among students, seniors, and minorities.


Mary Larson Dennis, Ramsey County Social Services Local 151, testifies in favor of taxing the richest 2 percent.

Jason Anderson, Moose Lake DHS Local 1092, meets with legislators.

Legislature F a i L s

What Legislature proposed








What Legislature proposed What Legislature proposed



www.afscmemn.org • m ay – j U n e 2 0 11 • S t e p p i n g U p • 5

paRaDing OUR values

Impact of Republican Budget Proposals on State Workforce

Administration: eliminate 70 percent of general fund staff, including data practices, state demographer, geospatial office, and programs that allow state agencies to take advantage of economies of scale.

Bureau of Mediation Services: eliminate half the general fund staff that oversees union elections, contract mediation, and arbitration.

Commerce: eliminate half the general fund staff, including bank examiners and investigators.

Corrections: eliminate more than 600 jobs, grant early release to as many as 1,600 inmates while reducing community-based corrections, and potentially close a state prison the size of red wing.

Military and Veterans Affairs: eliminate 170 jobs.

Natural Resources: mothball 5-10 state parks; eliminate staffing at 14 additional parks; reduce hours and services at dozens of other parks and recreation areas; reduce control of invasive species in lakes and forests.

Revenue: eliminate 53 percent of general-fund staff; reduce tax compliance efforts; delay processing of tax returns.

Cut $3.6 billion in funding to state agencies and services.

What it means: Eliminates 30,000 jobs in the public and private sectors. (See sample of impacts in box at right)


Cut state workforce by 5,000 jobs.Result: Passed in Legislature,

along with provisions to “sunset” every state agency and create new “sunset commission” to evaluate every two years whether a “public need exists” for a state agency to continue operating. Vetoed by Gov. Dayton.

Force state employees to compete for own jobs; evaluate all state agencies for situations that constitute “inappropriate competition” with private enterprise; consolidate or outsource most “back office” functions in state agencies.

What it means: Eliminates job security. Massive privatization of state services. As Rep. Keith Downey says: “If it’s in the yellow pages, why is state government performing it?”

Result: State workers can “compete for the business” if agency attempts to contract work to an outside vendor; all state agencies must perform “zero-based budgeting”; Legislature creates “employee gainsharing” for ideas that save agencies money; promotes outsourcing of state building management, fleet services, and “strategic sourcing.” Vetoed by Gov. Dayton.

HuMAN SERVICES

Cut $1.6 billion from Human Services budget.

What it means: Privatizes parts of MinnesotaCare; privatizes MSOCS; shuts down Community Behavioral Health Hospitals (CBHHs) in Alexandria, Annandale, Baxter, Bemidji, Fergus Falls and Rochester; shuts down Willmar Community Behavioral Health Hospital; cancels “redesign” and removes “no layoff” language for Anoka Regional Treatment Center; weakens “no layoff” language for METO.

Result: Privatization of MSOCS and shutdown of CBHHs defeated.

Remaining provisions vetoed by Gov. Dayton.

Repeal early Medicaid buy-in.What it means: Loss of $1.84

billion in federal funding; threatens health coverage for 95,000 residents; threatens jobs for 20,000 health-care workers.


Privatize county-based waivered-services case management.

What it means: Hundreds of layoffs; shifts work from public employees to low-bid private-sector employees; potential shortage of services in smaller counties.

Result: Defeated in committee.

HIGHER EDuCATION

Cut $411 million in state aid to University of Minnesota and MnSCU systems.

What it means: Eliminates 1,221 jobs; increases tuition; paves the way to eliminate courses and programs.


CORRECTIONS

Require commissioner to seek bids to place offenders in private prisons; require commissioner to examine shutting down part or all of some prisons.

What it means: Outsourcing or privatization of corrections.

Result: Privatization blocked before

becoming law; remaining provisions vetoed by Gov. Dayton.

NATuRAL RESOuRCES

Privatize conservation and maintenance services in the DNR.


Privatize and sell off all DNR tree nurseries.

What it means: Eliminates 17 AFSCME jobs; makes state resources dependent on private sector.

Result: Legislature mandated closing General C.C. Andrews Nursery by July 2013. Vetoed by Gov. Dayton.

TRANSPORTATION

Eliminate provisions that forbid outsourcing of state work if current employees are “able and available” to perform the work.

What it means: Guts MnDOT’s Taxpayer Transportation Accountability Act. Makes it easier to privatize or outsource services in MnDOT and other state agencies.


LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Cut $925 million in state aid to cities and counties.

What it means: Eliminates 1,735 jobs, primarily in Duluth, Minneapolis, and St. Paul. Increases local property taxes by over $1 billion.


“Right to work for less” amendment on 2012 ballot.

What it means: Drives down wages for all workers. Handcuffs union members’ power to improve wages, benefits and working conditions.

Result: Never brought to a vote.

Eliminate equal pay for women.What it means: Halts 30 years

of wage progress for women who work for local governments. Restores private-sector inequities, in which women make, on average, only 77 cents for every $1 a man makes.

Result: Withdrawn after widespread opposition led by Council 5 members.

Weaken arbitration rights for local government workers.


What Legislature proposed: Forbid public employers from deducting union dues out of members’ paychecks.

What it means: Weakens power of union members and local union finances.


Constitutional amendments that a) require a 3/5 vote in both houses of the Legislature before Minnesota can raise revenue, b) limit revenue for next two-year budget to revenue collected in last two years.

What it means: Makes it nearly impossible for state to raise sufficient revenue, leading to huge cuts in services and loss of thousands of AFSCME jobs.

Result: Never brought to a vote.Mark Lund (front) and Randy Schmidtke, Department of Administration Local 3139, helped pack a hearing.

attacks on workers

JoBs

Seth Manning, HCMC Local 977, with his 3-year-old daughter, Olivia, joined events on the Legislature’s last night.


















as thousands of campers descend on state parks, they get their weekends

started right because of DNR workers like Linda Mueller and Joyce Rusert.

Mueller, Rusert and other AFSCME members who work park entrances handle permits, help pick campsites, sell firewood, and do much more.

“We’ve got to answer any question you could ever think of about Minnesota, then a few more,” says Rusert, a member of Local 1692. She has worked for the DNR 23 years, including the last three at Whitewater State Park.

“When you wear the uniform, people assume that you know everything and know where everything is,” says Mueller, a member of Local 1623. She is working her 32nd summer at Lake Itasca State Park.

The practical to the absurdVisitors ask park workers about birds, trees, animals, boat and bike rentals, trails, and park activity schedules. As parks add attractions like geocaching, park workers need to know GPS units. They need to know about veterinarians, laundries, good food, and other amenities in nearby towns.

They repeat the same answers thousands of times during a summer. “But each person is your only customer at that point, so you treat them like that,” Rusert says.

They also figure out how to answer stupid questions gracefully. Mueller’s favorite: “Do you have mosquitoes here?”

They solve problems with reservations. Several times a week, Mueller says, campers show up on

the wrong day, or a month early, or at the wrong park. All those problems have to be solved.

The best campsitesA trip to one of Minnesota’s 74 state parks is an affordable vacation many middle-class families count on. A one-day permit is $5; an annual sticker allows unlimited visits for one year for only $25.

Rusert’s and Mueller’s parks have attractions that lure visitors from across Minnesota and beyond. Whitewater is a hot spot for morel mushrooms and trout fishing. Itasca features the headwaters of the Mississippi River.

Of course, campers expect park workers to know everything about

every single campsite, too. “Each one wants the best campsite,” Rusert says, “but each one of them has different criteria. One has a huge motor home, one has a little tent. Some want to be by the water, some don’t. Some want to be by the toilets, some do not want to be by the toilets.”

Once, Mueller says, a group forgot tent stakes. “So I needed to put them in a site with trees that were eight feet apart so they could string their tent up.”

Workers do all this while also juggling phone calls, paperwork and other distractions. They learn all this, amazingly, on their own. The DNR provides little formal training.

They rarely have time to study or explore their own parks, let alone camp in them, they say. Basically, they absorb information, or learn on the job from more experienced staff members, either by asking directly or by overhearing their answers.

Protecting the forests

Park workers also play a key role stopping the spread of emerald ash borers, gypsy moths and other invasive pests that threaten the state’s forests. Visitors cannot bring wood in. Instead, Itasca sells about 13 semis full of firewood each year.

“I have ways of finding out if you’re sneaking wood in,” Mueller says. “Otherwise, we have park security. They go around and do a wonderful job collecting the wood that people claim they don’t have.”

‘You’ve got to like people’

In the end, the job is about people. “You need to deal with every type of personality and every type of person,” Rusert says.

“We deal with people who are so excited to be here that they’re not hearing anything we’re saying,” Mueller says. “But we also deal with people that have been fighting with each other all the way up here for four hours. By the time they get here, they’re not in the best mood.

“Then, right before school starts, people get a little more frantic and desperate. They’re thinking: They haven’t gone camping yet, their kids are going to be mad at them, and they just need to get it over with.

“But my job, the way I am – no one goes away unhappy.”

A little kindness has its rewards, she says. “I have a lot of regulars who have stayed with us over the years. They wait for me, which is really nice. And, here and there, we get a few chocolate chip cookies.” n

Joyce Rusert shows how to get to trout streams in Whitewater State Park.

we dO tHe work

SuMMER we Make

happen

DNR workers help the state get

outside and play

in the entire Minnesota state park

system, there’s nothing like itasca’s

douglas Lodge. the lodge is essentially

a resort within a park – with 12 cabins,

15 suites, 8 rooms in the lodge, and

a sprawling dining room that defines

“north woods.”

family meals, memories

“you get to know the people,” says jan

Maklezow, who provides housekeeping

services in the lodge and cabins.

“that’s what’s fun.”

“there are people who have come

here every year for the 23 years

i’ve been here,” says coreen kliner,

another member of Local 1623 who

now oversees the dining room. “i

watched the kids grow from babies to

adulthood. i like that.”

the park, the lodge and its facilities are

the site of family reunions, weddings

and everything in between. families

scramble to make their reservation

as soon as the “one year in advance”

deadline hits. “One family came here

for 50 years,” Kliner says. “One family

got married here and celebrated their

50th anniversary here.”

staff do what they can to make the

day special, kliner says. “i had one lady

come in and say: ‘i remember you!

i got married here 20 years ago and

you fixed the necklace on my wedding

dress.’ things like that, people

remember.”

the dining room

has a clientele of its

own, too. it’s open

from Memorial day

weekend through

the fall-color season.

it typically serves as

many as 200 people

for breakfast, 250

for lunch and 300

for dinner. it’s not

just campers, either.

the dining room gets visitors from

around the world, who stop in to

stick their feet in the Mississippi river

headwaters. it also gets “regulars” who

drive in from Bemidji, walker, Osage,

park Rapids, Detroit Lakes and points

in between.

“the looks, the décor, the view, the

whole dining room – the scenery is

awesome,” Kliner says. “you don’t

usually get that in a regular restaurant.”

Brenda Moberg is a lead cook at

Douglas Lodge in Itasca State Park.

She’s been there 33 years. Her father,

Axel, and mother, Ellamae, worked

there. Here brother, Dale, worked

there more than 30 years before

retiring. She’s had aunts, children,

nephews and other siblings work at

Itasca. “My whole family, we’ve got

well over 200 years in the park.”

Moberg, of Local 1623, actually hates

cooking. “I like baking. That’s my

forte.” unfortunately, she says, nearly

all the baked goods the lodge serves

are pre-made. So she cooks instead.

“I’ll probably still be here when I’m

in my walker,” Moberg says. “I do

enjoy the people I work with. I just

don’t like to cook.”

Coreen Kliner keeps the Douglas Lodge dining room

running smoothly.

Douglas Lodge creates unforgettable bonds

www.afscmemn.org • m ay – j U n e 2 0 11 • S t e p p i n g U p • 7

grounds crews at Minnesota’s state parks are, in many ways, symbolic of public workers in general. people in the public rarely see them. park visitors rarely gives a second thought to the work they do. it’s only when their work doesn’t get done that the public seems to notice.

“we want to make sure everything’s up to snuff,” says ken Heaser, a member of Local 1692 and a general repair worker at Whitewater State park. “when somebody comes into the park, and they go into the bathroom and it’s a mess, or if something isn’t working right, that’s something they’re going to remember.”

the to-do list never ends, says kenny Moorhouse, a member of Local 1623 who is in his 10th summer as a building and grounds worker at itasca state park. Because itasca has more buildings than most parks, Moorhouse has plenty of staining, painting, and sewer, water and electrical work to do. that’s on top of the outdoors work – mowing grass, clearing trails, cleaning fire rings, cutting downed trees, repairing storm damage.

Juggling priorities“this is like running a business,” Heaser says. “sometimes you get overwhelmed with little projects that come up, so you can’t focus on the bigger things that need to be taken care of.” Heaser, who has been at Whitewater for 35 years, is the kind of guy who “knows more about this park than the rest of us combined,” co-workers say. He lines up the bids, materials and schedules for park projects. He is the park’s go-between with outside contractors who have done the major restoration work the park needed after devastating flash floods in 2007.

in addition to caring for the park and its buildings, he and his crews are mechanics, too. when they can, they repair equipment “from the weed trimmer all the way up to the loader,” Heaser says. that saves taxpayers money and preserves their investment.

whitewater operates year-round, so Heaser’s tasks include posting deer-hunting boundaries and grooming ski trails. “Before you know it, the grass starts growing and we’re back in full summer mode.”

The really don’t know everythingJoni Liljedahl laughs when co-workers say she’s the dnr’s version of wikipedia. But she is the one who memorized the phone numbers to all 74 state parks.

“we know pretty much all there is to know,” she admits. “the officers even call us and ask us questions they don’t know the answers to.”

Liljedahl is one of eight dnr information specialists. they pick up the phone when someone from anywhere in the state – or the country, for that matter – calls the department’s toll-free number: 1-888-Minndnr.

they answer calls from hunters, fishers, bikers, hikers, birders, boaters, campers and more. in peak season, that’s as many as 2,000 calls a day. when they’re not on the phone, they answer emails. they also mail out a couple of hundred booklets, pamphlets and maps every day.

Learning by doing

the information specialists get calls about licenses and trails. people rely on them for advice on which parks best fit their family’s needs. as Liljedahl points out: “reservations doesn’t know anything about our parks, because they’re not even in the state.”

people call for help in identifying wildlife they’ve seen. they call for advice about what to do about animals that wander into their yards, or seem

abandoned. they even call about city, county, regional and federal parks.

“they think that everything that has to do with parks or outdoors is dnr,” Liljedahl says. “so, it’s pretty much anything the DnR might do – even though we might not.”

the information specialists work in cubicles surrounded by manuals and reference sheets. they navigate the dnr website with ease. the job, Liljedahl says, “is nonstop learning. if i don’t know the answer to something, somebody does.”

the only way to learn the job, she says, is to do it. there was a time when every information specialist was given time to visit every state park, so they could gain firsthand knowledge. Budget cuts eliminated that training.

“to work here, you really have to love your job,” Liljedahl says. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to take it. it’s a lot of stress. But it’s rewarding.”

How? She smiles: “people thank you.”

Your license, pleaseWhen a governor needs a hunting or fishing license, like thousands of other Minnesotans, he drops in to see kevin Habeck, reed jonason, or janelle potter. the three members of Local 1465 staff the front counter at the DnR’s Lafayette park headquarters in St. paul.

as Jonason puts it, “i’m here to get you the license you need so you don’t get in trouble when you get out there.”

keeping track of all the regulations for different outdoor sports is no simple task. “we rely on each other,” Habeck says. “some people have more knowledge in certain areas. But every year, they’re changing – especially deer. so we’ve got to keep up with that, update ourselves, and pass that knowledge on to the customer.”

Taking the time that’s necessary

Besides handling walk-in traffic, the trio also take phone calls and handle stacks of atv and boat registrations, renewals and licenses through the mail. “When the fishing opener’s coming up, it can be overwhelmingly busy,” Habeck says. But there is no “quota.” they are allowed to take as much time as necessary with each customer. sometimes, there’s a language barrier.

and, given how hunters and fishers like to share stories, sometimes it’s a fine line deciding how much customer service is enough. “sometimes, some customers talk longer than others,” Habeck says.

He and Jonason, in particular, get to be familiar faces to outdoor enthusiasts – in part because they attend sports shows and the state fair on behalf of the dnr, in part because of the green Bay packers memorabilia that often adorns their cubicles.

Jonason explains: “i’m an old guy. there were no vikings here when i started watching football.”

Reed Jonason

Kevin Habeck sells another fishing license.

Joni Liljedahl: “It’s just fun to talk to people. And most of them are very nice.”

Park crews labor in anonymity

Kenny Heaser removes a pay phone from the beach house at Whitewater State Park.

Kenny Moorhouse: “In building and grounds, you’re doing something different every day. It is not monotonous.”


solidarity cOrner

as public employees, we aren’t the only workers seeing our pay, benefits and

careers under attack. The cashiers, meat cutters, and clerks at union supermarkets are in the same fight.

“A service-sector job with benefits – the only place you can get those is in a union grocery store,” says Don Seaquist, president of UFCW Local 1189. His local represents grocery workers in the East Metro, Arrowhead, and Iron Range.

The problem is that big, nonunion chains – especially Target, Wal-Mart and Coburn’s – are gobbling up more of people’s grocery money. That makes it harder for union supermarkets to compete while still treating their workers well.

Grocery workers in the East Metro, for example, are in a contentious round of negotiations in which workers are fighting off concessionary proposals loaded with takebacks in wages, job security and pensions. Workers who clean the stores – who work for subcontractors who are not part of UFCW – also are fighting the

supermarkets over falling wages and rising workloads.

Ten years ago, union grocers had a 90 percent market share in the Metro. Especially because Target and Wal-Mart have expanded their grocery selections, the union grocers’ share is down to about 70

percent today, Seaquist says.

The biggest advantage of working in a union grocer, Seaquist says, is that “you can make a career.” Union grocery contracts provide a guaranteed wage scale, affordable health insurance, paid vacation, sick pay, and a defined-benefit pension. All those are available for full-timers and part-timers.

Skimping in the benefits aisle

Conditions are far different at nonunion stores. “We’ve actually had people come from Sam’s Club into our meat department, and their pay doubles,” says Dan Hudyma, a Local 1189 rep in Duluth. “But

the benefit structure is definitely the glaring difference: Holiday pay, vacation, time and a half, a grievance procedure, a real retirement plan – things they didn’t think about till they had union job.”

Workers at union stores are also guaranteed a minimum number of work hours. “In a nonunion store, there may be a week they just don’t schedule you,” Seaquist says.

Shopping options are plentiful

For AFSCME members who want to support union grocers, there are plenty of opportunities in many parts of the state (see details below). In the Metro, union stores include Byerly’s, Cub, Kowalski’s, Lunds and Rainbow. In Northern Minnesota, about two-thirds of Super One stores have union contracts. Some smaller stores and neighborhood markets also have contracts.

“By shopping union, you are supporting your community,” Seaquist says. “Good jobs equal strong communities. It’s that simple.” n

Andover: festival, king’s county Market

Apple Valley: cub, rainbow

Arden Hills: cub

Aurora: Zups

Baxter: cub, super One

Blaine: Cub (Central ave., northtown Drive, pheasant Ridge), Rainbow

Bloomington: Cub (France ave., Lyndale ave.), Festival, Lunds, Rainbow

Brainerd: cub, s.a.v.e. foods

Brooklyn Center: cub

Brooklyn Park: cub, festival, rainbow

Burnsville: Byerly’s, Cub (Cty. Road 42, travelers trail)

Champlin: cub

Chanhassen: Byerly’s, cub

Chaska: county Market, rainbow

Chisholm: jubilee (meat only)

Circle Pines: festival

Cloquet: super One

Columbia Heights: rainbow

Cook: Zups

Coon Rapids: Cub (northdale Blvd., Riverdale Crossing), Rainbow

Cottage Grove: cub, rainbow

Crosby: supervalu

Crystal: almsted’s supervalu, thriftway Market

Duluth: Cub (Central entrance), mount Royal Fine Foods (Woodland ave.), paulson’s SuperValu (millewr trunk Highway), piggly Wiggly (Woodland ave.), Super One (S. 13th ave. e, W. arrowhead road, Bristol st., Burning tree road, e. Superior St.)

Eagan: Byerly’s, Cub (Cliff Lake Road, Diffley Road), Kowalski’s, Rainbow

Eden Prairie: cub, kowalski’s, rainbow

Edina: Byerly’s, cub, Jerry’s foods, Lunds

Eveleth: country foods

Elk River: cub

forest Lake: cub, rainbow

fridley: cub

Golden Valley: Byerly’s

Grand Rapids: cub, Johanneson’s family foods

Hastings: cub

Hibbing: sunrise Bakery

Hopkins: driskill’s food, nelson’s Meats

Hudson: county Market

Hugo: festival

International falls: paulson’s SuperValu, super One

Inver Grove Heights: cub, rainbow

Lakeville: cub (Heritage Drive, 179th St.), Rainbow

Maple Grove: Byerly’s, cub, rainbow

Maplewood: angus meats, Cub (County road B, white Bear ave.), Knowlan’s, Rainbow

Minneapolis: Bergan’s supervalu (Cedar ave.), Cub (S. 26th St., W. Broadway, e. Lake St.), everett’s Foods and meats (e. 38th St.), ingebretsen’s scandinavian gifts (e. Lake St.), Kowalski’s (S. chicago ave., Hennepin ave., S. Lyndale ave.), Lunds (S. 11th st. and Hennepin ave., w. Lake St., University and Central), Oxendale’s market (S. 34th ave.), Rainbow (S. 26th ave., Lagoon ave., new Brighton Blvd.), Sullivan’s Supervalu (W. Lake St.), Swanson meats (S. 26th ave.), Village market (e. 24th St.)

Minnetonka: Byerly’s, cub, fresh seasons Market, Lunds

Monticello: cub

Mound: Jubilee

Nashwauk: fred’s

Navarre: Lunds

New Brighton: cub

North Branch: county Market

Oakdale: rainbow

Oak Park Heights: kowalski’s

Pequot Lakes: supervalu

Plymouth: Cub (Rockford Road, Vicksburg Lane), Lunds, Rainbow (Olson memorial Highway, plymouth Station, Rockford Road)

Prior Lake: village Market

Richfield: Lunds, rainbow

Robbinsdale: rainbow

Rogers: cub

Rosemount: cub

Roseville: Byerly’s, cub, rainbow

Savage: cub, rainbow

Shakopee: cub

Shoreview: rainbow

Shorewood: cub

Silver Bay: Zups

South St. Paul: knowlan’s

St. Anthony: cub

St. Cloud: Byerly’s

St. francis: king’s Market

St. Louis Park: almsted’s supervalu, Byerly’s, cub

St. Paul: Byerly’s (Suburban ave.), Cooper’s Super Valu (W. 7th St./two locations), Cub (Clarence ave., Old Hudson Road, University ave.), Kowalski’s

(grand ave.), Lunds (Ford parkway), Rainbow (arcade St., University ave.)

Stillwater: cub

Superior: Super One (Belknap, e. 5th St., Oakes ave.), Superior meats

Two Harbors: super One

Tower: Zups

Vadnais Heights: festival

Victoria: fresh seasons Market

Virginia: Super One (4th St. n, 17th St. S), tom’s f&d Meats

Wayzata: Lunds

West St. Paul: cub, Jim’s Market, rainbow

White Bear Lake: cub, festival, kowalski’s

Woodbury: cub, kowalski’s, rainbow

Union Grocers in Your CityHere is a list of union grocers in minnesota (and a few border cities) represented by UFCW Local 653 or UFCW Local 1189.

KOOCHICHINGST LOUIS

LAKE

ITASCA

CARLTONCROW WING

STEARNS

SEEDETAILED

MAP

CHISAGO

Duluth

AuroraVirginia

CookTower

Eveleth

Chisholm

HibbingNashwauk

GrandRapids

InternationalFalls

Two Harbors

Silver Bay

Superior

North Branch

Cloquet

St. Cloud

Baxter Brainerd

CrosbyPequot Lakes

RAMSEYHENNEPIN

WRIGHT

SHERBURNE

SCOTT

CARVER

DAKOTA

ANOKA

WASH-INGTON

StillwaterOak Park HtsHudson

St PaulOakdale

Woodbury

ColumbiaHts

CoonRapids

NewBrighton

Shoreview

Forest Lake

ArdenHills

St AnthonyRoseville

MaplewoodVadnais Hts

WhiteBear Lake

Hugo

CirclePines

FridleyBrooklynCenter

CrystalRobbinsdale

GoldenValley

Plymouth

MapleGrove

Rogers

Elk RiverMonticello

St LouisParkMinnetonka

Wayzata

Mound Navarre

BrooklynPark

ChamplinAndover

St Francis

Blaine

Minneapolis

Rich�eldEdina

Eden Prairie

Hopkins

Chanhassen

Shakopee

Prior Lake

Chaska

VictoriaShorewood

Bloomington

BurnsvilleSavage

Eagan

Lakeville

RosemountHastings

CottageGrove

InverGroveHts

South St Paul

WestSt Paul

AppleValley

Do Your Food $$$ Support

Good Jobs?

Dave Brunner is a ufCW member at Jim’s Market in West St. Paul.

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