LOCAL

INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS PUBLIC AND LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES UNION

320Summer 2015 Edition Volume XVIII - Issue #2

IN THIS ISSUE... 2. Secretary-Treasurers Report, Brian Aldes 3. President Emeritus James R. Hoffas 1958 Letter to all Teamster members, Locals, Joint Councils and Conferences 4. Presidents Report, Sami Gabriel 4. Vice Presidents Report, Curt Swenson 5. Know Your Rights, Paula Johnston 5. Recording Secretarys Report, Craig Johnson 6. Teamsters Service Bureau, Teamsters Credit Union, Teamsters Privilege and Joint Council 32 D.R.I.V.E.

TEAMSTERS ON THE MARCH!

LOCAL 320 SECRETARY-TREASURERS REPORT

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By Brian Aldes

Teamsters Local 320 is in the process of negotiating its major labor contracts with the State. Those units include both public university

systems, State Court Administration and the Board of Public Defense.

The executive level state employees reached a tentative contract agreement on June 26, 2015. The deal includes a 2.5 percent raise effective July 1, 2015 plus a 2.5 percent raise effective July 1, 2016. There will be step increases for both years of the contract. This agreement covers over 17,000 state employees.

We are looking for the same, similar or even better with our Teamster contracts and we will not relent. We wont let workers fall behind!

Both the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System (MnSCU) and the University of Minnesota received additional monies for operations; however, neither system reached their full funding request. Minnesotas public universities and colleg-es were shortchanged by the State Legisla-ture and will have to raise tuition in order to meet inflationary pressures. Please know that the State Legislature had the power and resources to fully fund Higher Ed but failed to do so.

The Board of Public Defense and State Court Administration were able to secure a nine percent (9%) funding increase over the 2016-2017 biennium.

Because there wasnt a tax bill during the session no changes were made to Local Government Aid (LGA) to cities or County Program Aid (CPA) to counties.

OFFICERS AND STAFF

Brian AldesSecretary-Treasurer and

Principal OfficerSami Gabriel

President/Business AgentCurt Swenson

Vice President/Business AgentCraig Johnson

Recording-Secretary/Business Agent

Marcia (Marty) LambTrustee, St. Paul ISD 625

Richard WheelerTrustee, MSUAASFAlston Dutchin

Trustee, U of MPaula Johnston

General Counsel

Local 320 Business AgentsAmy Hill

Bob KolstadMichael KoppRoger Meunier

Terry NeubergerVance Rolfzen

Erik Skoog

Communications | LobbyistGus Froemke

Lead OrganizerJosh Intemann

Support StaffSusan Bastian

Ron PhillipsSuzanne Slawson

Joni SpauldingKristi ZieglerKatie Ziembo

Minneapolis, MN Local Union Office8:00am - 4:00pmP: 612-378-8700F: 612- 331-89481-800-637-5430

Onlinewww.teamsterslocal320.org

Emaillocal320@teamsterslocal320.org

Published by Teamsters Local 320

3001 University Ave SE #500Minneapolis, MN 55414

Education funding for public schools was undoubtedly the most contested and con-troversial item before the State Legislature. The Special Session was able to push a deal between Governor Dayton and the GOP-controlled House. The final budget provides $525 million for funding increases: $63 million will go toward the general education funding formula, equaling a two percent (2%) increase for each year of the 2016-2017 biennium. The remainder of the funding increases will go toward early learning scholarships and School Readi-ness programs.

The State of Minnesota continues to be strong economically: Minnesota collected $555 million more in taxes over the last three months than state economists had predicted in February as both individual and corporate income turned out higher than expected.

A strong state economy is good for Local 320s membership as it provides not only additional monies to state and local coffers, but it provides a safety net for workers to spend money.

Both the Minnesota and U.S. economy are consumption based (consumer driven economies) and perpetuated by consumer activity. When workers have more dispos-able income they tend to make big and lasting purchases that churn through the economy creating additional demand for goods and services. More money in work-ers pockets makes for a stronger economy and a better Minnesota.

In closing, the State Legislature set up a statewide alert system (Blue Alert) to catch suspected police killers. Like the Amber Alert to find children, the Blue Alert would be used to get the publics help to track down a suspect when police officers are killed or wounded.

BIG TEAMSTER CONTRACTS UP

JAMES R. HOFFA(PRESIDENT EMERITUS)

We should be opposed to bigotry and racial discrimination at every turn... -1958

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The Teamsters Womens conference is a great opportu-nity for Teamster sisters from Local 320 to network with other Teamster sisters throughout the United States and Canada.

Teamster sisters are provided the opportunity to share experiences, ideas and much more. It is our hope that our Teamster Stewards will learn from other Teamster sisters and bring back lots of knowledge and also provide their own ideas to others!

We look forward to memorable lessons and empower-ment for the more than 1,000 Teamster sisters expected to attend!

TEAMSTERS WOMENS CONFERENCE

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PRESIDENTS REPORT

By Sami Gabriel

Teamsters Local 320 select-ed three union stewards to attend this years Teamsters Womens Conference held August 27-29 in Boston.

The three-day event consis-tently features an impressive program of speakers, dozens of educational workshops and union-build-ing activities.

Please join us in congratulating our stewards!

Heather Ahern: 1st Judicial District

Marika Olivier: Crow Wing County

Leslie Hauge: Otter Tail County

VICE PRESIDENTS REPORT

HARD BARGAINING AT THE U OF MBy Curt Swenson

At the University of Minne-sota, the Teamster Bargain-ing Team outright rejected managements opening wage proposal of 0.75% C.O.L.A. Please go to our web page for the video statement from the

Bargaining Team at: www.teamsterslocal320.org

Both the Bargaining Team and myself were ap-palled by the opening offer. The University secured an additional biennial total of $65.2 million from the State Legislature and was provided the ability to raise tuition by 1.8% each year. We know they have more money in reserves and in separate operating funds. We will not settle until we have a look at their books!

Below is an excerpt from the Teamster Bargaining Team statement:

The University brought to us an insulting proposal of .75% per hour cost of living increase. We were all appalled by the offer.

We told the University the offer is insulting.

0.75% equals about 12 cents per hour on average. We know they can afford to treat us fairly.

The University needs to know that its employees are first class and they should be paid and treated accordingly.

The University needs to know that we are united in our opposition to this insulting offer.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: GENERAL COUNSEL

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By Paula Johnston

In Garrity v. New Jersey, 385 U.S. 493 (1967), the United States Supreme Court held that the protection of the individual under the Fourteenth Amendment against coerced statements prohibits use in subsequent criminal proceedings of state-ments obtained under threat of removal from office, and that it extends to all, whether they are policemen or other members of our body politic. In other words, if a public employee is compelled to produce information under threat of discipline or discharge, that informa-tion cannot be used in the criminal prosecu-tion of that individual employee.

When a public employer conducts an investi-gation into employment misconduct that may involve criminal activity, it should provide the employee a Garrity warning before question-ing him or her. The warning should state that the employee is being compelled to answer the employers questions, and that if he or she refuses the refusal could result in severe discipline or discharge.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: WHAT IS A GARRITY WARNING?

Even if the employer does not provide the warning, the employees statements will still be protected so long as the employer compelled the employee to answer the questions. Since the Garrity right is con-stitutionally based, it cannot be waived or forfeited. Generally, compulsion occurs when the employee

is threatened with severe sanctions, such as termination, for failing to answer questions from the employer.

The Garrity right should not be con-fused with blanket immunity. State-ments made during the employment investigation cannot be used to pros-ecute the employee,

but if the investigating agency discovers the same information in some other way the employee could still face criminal charges.

REMEMBER 1934 PLAQUE UNVEILING

RECORDING SECRETARYS REPORT

By Craig Johnson

On July 18th the Remem-ber 1934 Committee, Local 120, other Teamster Locals including 320, and various other community and activist groups met to unveil a per-manent plaque to commemo-rate the strikers who fought

and died during the 1934 Teamsters Strike.

The plaque is at the very corner where on Bloody Friday striker Henry Ness was shot and killed. Bob Kolstad of Local 320 invocated the ceremony.

Left: Teamsters Local 320 members at unveiling ceremony. Right: Tom Keegel, Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus of the

International Brotherhood of Teamsters addressed the crowd at the unveiling ceremony.

The Teamsters Service Bureau provides FREE CONFIDENTIAL services for you and your family.

We can assist you with balancing and managing many of lifes challenges. Remember... Problems and stress can and do happen! Call the Service Bureau today. Were here to help! 612-676-3700 (or 24-hour toll free 1-800-979-9725)

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