Long one but good

Good day all.

The survey results are in. Thanks to all who responded.

In ranking the importance vacation, COLA took 1^st and 2^nd place (place then how many people voted).

1 – Vacation Leave (1^st 3, 2^nd 5, 3^rd 1, 4^th 1)

2 – COLA (1^st 3, 2^nd 4, 3^rd 3, 4^th 0)

3 – General Pay (1^st 3, 2^nd 1, 3^rd 5, 4^th 1)

4 – Uniform (1^st 1, 2^nd 0, 3^rd 1, 4^th 8)

For cost of living adjustment 1.6 is acceptable but ask for more knowing they will probably go low.

1.6 acceptable – 3

Go for More – 3

No 0 – 1

Other – 3

Comments:

Go for more… but is acceptable LGiles

Go for more – RLogan

Ask for more with the exception that we would probably get around the 1.5 but start at 3+  -LSenst

A majority feels our uniform policy is just right

It is just right – 7

It is too undefined – 2

Other – 1

Comments:
I do not want it to change. Those who choose to wear articles of clothing that don't fit should be dealt with on a case by case basis – Bdimercurio

Our vacation is currently acceptable, but people want more.

Leave it -3

Switch to PTO – 2

Go for more – 2

Other – 3

Switch to PTO and go for MORE!! – LSenst

If continue the ETO program it is acceptable.. if that were to go away i would say go for more – Lgiles

Go for more or switch to pto – Rlogan

A majority of us feel we are paid competitively…

We are paid competitively – 6

We are not paid competitively – 0

Neutral – 2

Other – 2

I think we are paid ok, but I think when you factor in the lack of vacation/pto/eto/sick, I think we need to increase one or the other. – LSenst

When the starting wage for new Operators is adjusted, the wage of current operators should be adjusted to match the change. – BDimercurio

Thoughts on shift

More staffing is always better... but need to justify it... for money reasons. would be nice to have minimum of 8 at all times... just not sure can afford it ... I think better than previous years... – LGiles

It is great having enough people to staff without forcing overtime. Also great to be able to take vacation on short notice without being denied due to staffing. I could see staffing level increase by +1 for all shifts with the number of people employed. Running at Functional Minimum is always stressful. – JPudas

I think we need to switch to 12/10 hours to allow every other weekend off. This would eliminate alot of people's vacation time as it seems like weekends are our big ticket time to get off. – LSenst

After working both unstaffed shifts and staffed shifts I really prefer staffed shifts!! it would be nice to make sure B shift never drops below 9 and I think C shift should never drop below 8, I feel bad for them on the nights they work with 6.. I think it's unsafe and stressful. – SKennerly

B shift needs more people. Alot of us would like to go back to 2p to 10p or go to 12 hour shifts. I think seniority needs to be spread more across shifts. There should be shift bid with increments of 5 years so it spreads it out. – JMcCart

B is the worst. All summer you are pretty much a minimums, unable to use ETO/Vacation yourself when you get spread thin. And its the most busy, you get burnt out fast. Need to staff up during summer months. – BMorrow

We need to train people to just take calls. Some people who have gone through the training process are great at taking calls but not so good at dispatching. We need to consider hiring just call takers. – BDimercurio

As far as staffing goes I think we are good to go. As for the shifts, the supervisors need to do more to keep the peace, or real in the hostility. Not really a union issue. – CSanchez

This is a small box for all my thoughts. I think B shift should get the shift differential. I would like the same schedule as MCSO/County Jail. – JHoffman

Need more staffing, I am pretty open to shifts as long as I get weekends periodically – RLogan

So there you have you it with the current survey. Vacation leave is the number one priority and then COLA.

The cooperation meeting on Thursday went well. LeNora, Paul, Jesseca, and myself spoke about a timeline for negotiations. There was some confusion on hour adjust of whether or not hour adjust is guaranteed, and if the person should be offered the time for a vacancy 1^st or hour adjust should be canceled. A paragraph in the new policy will be rewritten to clarify.

Another thing spoken about is schedule hours worked. A lot of feedback was given on the floor about how late shift bid was this year and we would like to avoid that next year. Any changes to shift bid itself will be done in May/June. Faber has approached Jesseca about trying his proposal for 2018 start talking in January. Shift bid will hopefully be DONE before the end of October with vacation in November. (I would like to put forward that the Union should get to vote on major schedule changes that affect the whole center but will get feedback from you guys before moving forward with that.)

LeNora has accepted the position of Vice President. I have accepted the position of President. Craig Sanchez has accepted treasurer.

Union dues are going up for 2017 after not going up for 3 years to $23.60 per pay period.

Next focus will be vacation leave (the number 1 chosen), questions about shift incentive (it is a contract issue) I may send out another survey. For encouraging discussion it will not be anonymous. Feel free to put comments here - though an email to me letting me know you did would be good as well.

Weapons Survery Results

Hello Afscme 3516,

First of all I would like to thank our newest members – Dustin Odegard, Brandi Morrow, and Craig Sanchez for joining. As we go forward we are going to have negotiations in 2017 as well as a possible legislation presentation if we are reclassified. Fresh ideas are good.

As you are all aware the survey was to be completed yesterday and responses have been totaled. Remember I select the surveys as anonymous so I do not know how everyone voted, or who left comments.

Do you feel Safe Outside of Metro Communications on the property?

Yes – 8

No – 4

Other – 1

Comment left:

There are often times where there are transients outside. I personally feel safe because i'm trained in self defense but I know some other people - especially the females - have had times where they feel unsafe in the parking lot due to transients and intoxicated subjects.

Do you feel safe WITHIN Metro Communications?

Yes - 11

No - 2

No Comments left.

Do you feel comfortable with guns in Metro Communications?

Yes - 6

No - 6

Other- 1

Comments left:

I feel safe with the option of a LOCKBOX that people could carry their guns inside and then lockt hem up while on duty here. But I do NOT feel safe with people carrying them while on duty inside metro. There are too many people with minimum gun safety experience who still carry guns. I feel that it will become more of a "show and tell thing" for some co workers who want to just show off their guns to eachother. If its truly for safety and if someone were to open fire INSIDE metro...having a lock box in the break room or managment area would be close enough for someone to go get their firearm.

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i think it should be a personal option since pd/deputies carry their duty weapon on them when they visit (not lodging at jail)

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LE Only

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We have a comfortable workplace and I think guns would turn into a game of show and tell. Some people are paranoid about weapons, like it or not. Lockboxes do not add any security as going to get a weapon, if an active shooter came here, would take to much time and would add to confusion of uniformed responders coming in. If we had a uniform then I would be more comfortable with lockboxes.

Do you feel Afscme 3516 should support guns within Metro Communications?

Yes - 3

No - 8

Abstain - 2

Comments left:

If they were to allow a lockbox of sort so no one was carrying guns on their person while working - i would be okay with it. I dont see the need for people to carry their guns on their waist while at work. I feel it will become more of a showing off thing instead of a safety thing.

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I do not have a strong opinion either way.

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I am ambivalent, maybe have a lockbox or something.

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i don't think the union needs to be involved in this, it's a management issue

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Leave them in the car

So there you have it, the official stance of Afscme 3516 is not supporting guns in Metro. If there is enough support we may send another survey out about lock-boxes, but as of right now it is an issue you can speak to Supervisor/Office admin about it. I have no idea where the lock-boxes are.

(Hoffman note: I do not own a handgun so have no personal pony in this, if someone happens to have an extra glock...   :P   )

Thank you all for voting, and for your comments. I appreciate them all.

Any questions let me know. - Jared

Cost of Living Adjustment proposals

As you may recall our goal for 2017 COLA was around .7 - which was the highest I found without doing too much number twisting. The highest loose thread was 2.4 percent increase if you take away energy and gasoline, with the highest increase being child care. That is an extreme outlier that I would only reference if a 0 was offered. A cost of living allowance is to keep an employees budget predictable and lifestyle stable.

 CPI as a whole, actually indexed in the negative.

As you can see the projected 2016, which is not really able to be predicted with certainly, is a 1.5 increase. (All statistics are from the Bureau Labor of Statistics.)

Now the actual proposal...

Cost of Living Allowance 2.25 with a movement of the 1st step again.

Management spoke about staying competitive regionally, even nationally, and that we are staffed well right now. We are begging to pull higher quality applicants with a higher wage.

Feedback from last year has shown that a few people feel that the new people benefit more than established employees... Which numerically speaking (Starting employee ~6% instead of a 2.25% ). I am not going to dismiss any views of negatively as they are valid feelings.

The real question that LeNora and I had to ask is, do we reject the proposal and counter with our 1.5 and possibly settle for less - the CPI was negative - or accept that 2.25 for a majority of employees is a better deal.

LeNora and I accepted the proposal. Now it is time to ask questions and vote.

Contact me any way by phone 605-376-4238, personal email ja_hoffman@hotmail.com or work email jhoffman@911metro.org

Next Meeting is March 27th 13:30 and 19:00 If there are no objections I will send out a Surveymonkey again for voting on Monday 28th voting to be completed before 10:00 hrs March 30th.

Union Election News

Bob and Jared verified voting results, and that Survey Monkey is anonymous. Jared was elected to be President for 2016.

Lenora Giles will be VP for 2016.

With the question Communication between Senior Leaders and Employees is good in my organization.

33.33% Disagree
16.67% Neutral
50%  Agree or Strongly Agree

This is something I would like to work on. We will see how 2016 shapes with the new committees.

With the question "I feel completely involve in my work"

50% Disagree
16.67% Nuetral
33.33% Agree or Strongly Disagree

I would like Metro to feel connected to us. I would like decisions in Metro to be logical and consistent.

In other news, cost of living negotiations are coming up. The year end summary of 2015 was .7 CPI increase. If we get above that then we are ahead. We got 3 percent last year, along with starting wage increase, and you may have forget, 2.5 percent the year before. So we have had 2 strong years.

I am currently looking into when Trade was changed to not count towards hours worked, if any of you have an announcement prior to the procedure manual 100 change please forward it to me.

Thanks,
Jared