BARBARA’S CORNER

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT…

On January 10^th, a special membership meeting was held at the Medical Center to review and vote on the language for the merger agreement between Local 3353 and Local 3360. The vote was unanimous!! I would like to thank all members who took the time to attend that meeting and vote on this most important agreement.

I would also like to welcome all of the bargaining unit members of 3353 into Local 3360. We are happy to have you as part of our Local and will do all that we can to make the transition as easy as possible. It has taken many months to achieve this goal, but I truly believe that both Locals’ will benefit from this merger!

Mr. James Porter, the current President of Local 3353 and Alena Shaw the current Vice President of Local 3353 have been invaluable in helping to make this merger occur. I would like to thank them both for their leadership and vision as we worked toward an agreement. Mr. Porter has forwarded many historic 3353 framed documents to Local 3360. These will be proudly and prominently displayed in Local 3360’s offices. Without 3353’s solidarity and strong backbone, MetroHealth (then Metropolitan General Hospital) and Skilled East would not have organized and won their first contract. It is because of strong union activist like Mr. Porter and those that were with him during that historic strike for a first contract that we became Local 3353 and Local 3360 respectively. I feel that we have come full circle in becoming one Local again. Although we have many challenges ahead of us, together we will forge ahead and be triumphant.

ATTENTION ALL UNION MEMBERS!

MEMBERSHIP MEETING

March 25th

Trinity United Church

Scranton Road

Located Across from Skilled West

QUOTES OF THE MONTH

It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help. Judith Martin (Miss Manners)

Criticism comes easier than craftsmanship. Zeuxis (400 BC)

Build baby build, organize baby organize, learn baby learn, so that you can earn baby earn.

The great, late Martin Luther King!

QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH

Is it OK to use the internet on my job?

Unless you are required to use the internet as part of your regular job duties it is not OK to be on the internet during work hours. What I am referring to are things like EBay, playing games, checking outside e-mail and making internet purchases. You may be disciplined for using the internet if caught by supervisors!

Do I have to return the American Income Life Insurance cards?

No, this is strictly a voluntary program. The goal is to offer free $2000 Life Insurance policies to all of our members. The forms for this offer must be filled out in order to make the offer valid. This is why a representative calls for an appointment. Admittedly, while filling out the forms they do try and sell you additional Life Insurance. You DO NOT have to buy any additional Life Insurance to receive the free $2000 policy. In fact, you do not have to return the yellow card if you do not want to be called by a representative.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

Congratulations: To the employees of Food Service for a job well done. These employees have been able to spread the holiday cheer to residents of the Jones Home, across the street from the main campus. With proceeds from the vending machines that are kept in their area, they were able to provide 3 brand new couches for the residents to lounge about! They will also be providing Child Life with DVD’s and Video Games for the children on the Pediatric floors. Thank you for all that you do for those less fortunate than you!

Congratulations: Dan Moorman from Facilities Management on the birth of his first grandson, Cooper Daniel Moorman on September 7^th 2007 and his second grandchild, first granddaughter Adeline Olympia. Cooper weighed 5 lbs and 13 ounces and was 21” long. Adeline was 6lb and 11oz. Cooper is the nephew and Adeline is the niece of Geoffrey Moorman from NICU.

Condolences: To the friends and family of Mary Ann Higgins. Mary Ann retired a couple of years ago and was a supervisor in Medical Records on third shift. Mary Ann passed away on Sunday January 6, 2008.

Condolences: To the friends and family of Donna Watts on the passing of the father and her Uncle. Donna’s father James Austin passed away on January 11, 2008 and her Uncle Ac Wade passed away on January 12, 2008. Our hearts and prayers are with Donna at this time of grief.

Get Well Wishes: A wish for a speedy recovery to Robin LaGorin from Ortho Clinic. Robin had surgery on January 4, 2008. Besides being a steward Robin also serves on the Union’s Executive Board as the Secretary Treasurer. You will be missed. Get well soon Robin!!!

Get Well Wishes are also being sent to Barbara Clausing of WIC. Barbara is another steward and Executive Board member who will be “out of commission” for a time due to surgery. Get well soon Barbara!!

RETURNED DAVE’S GIFT CARDS

If your name is listed below you have a Dave’s gift card waiting for you in the Union office. We did attempt to contact you but either you did not respond or we were unable to contact you. We will keep the cards until the end of April. If they have not been claimed by that time we will donate them.

Jethy Amaro, Jacquesse Bell, Na’tia Pollard, Alicia

Ramos-Morris, Evalin Vaugh

MISSING CHECK OFF AGREEMENTS

In January some members received a letter from the Union office. In this letter it was explained that Ohio Council 8 downtown was missing check off agreements on some of our members. You were asked to fill out a new one and return it to the union office. Although we have received more than half of the requested check off agreements back we are still missing some. If your name appears below please stop by and fill out a new check off agreement so that our records will be complete with the Ohio Council 8 office downtown.

Robin Barnes, Luteisha Beenman, Lawrence Bellus,

Faye Bolden, Robert Brown, Carmen Carrasquillo, Cathy Chrosniak, Patrick Clancy, Barbara Cogan, Cynthia Conklin, Eloise DeJesus-Sema, Pauline Dey, Phillip Dipema, Nancy Dolenc, Felicia Economide, Myrtle Farr, L. Fletcher, Nora Garcia, Robert Gary, Gregory Griffin, Renee Hall, Marjore Hester, Anita Isom, Pricilla Jenkins, Shearon Jones, Karen Karp, Josie Lee, Nilsa Lewellyn, James Lewis, Marilyn Lewis, Galina Ligoky, Olivia Love, Joyce Lucas-Hughley, Allen Moss, Malisa Oliver, Sandra Oliver, Diane Pagan, Natika Polk, Bradley Randleman, Pamela Rantanes, Bonnie Ruff, Harold Rush, Willie Sayles, Karen Sieniawski, Sharon Spodar, Vicky Tatum, Nina Thomas, Genora Ward, Vernetta Warren, Zynola Word,

WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER???

Although we’ve had articles on this subject in the past, it is time to run this again. When bargaining unit members bid or lateral on jobs they are interested in, it is very important to make sure that you fill out all of the information on the bid and lateral forms. If the Hospital cannot contact you, the job will go to the next person in line. There have been several members recently who either gave nonworking numbers, numbers with no voice mail or answering machines or even worse, did not leave a number where they could be reached at all. The Hospital will NOT go to extraordinary lengths to find you. It is the employee’s responsibility to ensure that they are able to be contacted.

Please don’t miss out on a promotional opportunity just because a form on the computer wasn’t filled out completely! It’s a preventable tragedy!! If you need help with placing a bid or lateral on the computer, the desk staff will be happy to assist you!

MLK RAFFLE RESULTS…..

On February 4, at the Local’s Executive Board meeting, the winning ticket for the Lottery wreath was drawn. The winner was Amanda Velez from Food Services. Congratulation Amanda!!

We should be proud of our fund raising efforts. This Local raised $525.00 for the building of the Martin Luther King Memorial in Washington, D.C. We’ll keep you all updated on the status of the overall fundraising and when they project groundbreaking to occur. Thanks again!!

AFSCME PRESS RELEASE

AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee released the following statement in response to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released that indicated union membership in the United States increased by 311,00 to 15.7 million, the largest annual increase since 1979!

President McEntee stated that “The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ announcement that more workers are joining unions is good news for all Americans. AFSCME’s growth which has been consistent even during challenging times, in now part of a broader trend that’s spreading throughout the union movement.” “The labor movement will continue to grow and workers will prosper as more unions make organizing and politics top priorities, as AFSCME does. More than half of all workers say they would join a union right now if they could, which is why Congress must pass the Employee Free Choice Act, giving workers the freedom to join without interference from their employers.”

In more local news, Governor Strickland signed an executive order allowing Home Care/Day Care providers the opportunity to organize with AFSCME. This campaign is currently in full swing. AFSCME is in the process of card check recognition with these most important providers of child care to our most precious commodity…our children. We wish them well and encourage them to sign, sign, sign!!! We will keep you updated on this campaign.

UNION AND HOSPITAL REACH SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL DECISION

The union brought forth several issues through the newly formed Labor Management Committee which was agreed to by both parties during the last contract negotiations. One of the issues was in regards to paying shift differential for employees acting as “relief” employees. Using the process and researching the history of the previous settlement in 1997, the Union and the Hospital were able to agree that shift differential should be paid to all “relief “ employees and to first shift employees who have been either scheduled overtime or mandated overtime for 2^nd and 3^rd shifts. The contract language indicates that you must work 4 or more hours on the off-shift to qualify for shift differential. This rule still applies. The shift differential premium will be paid moving forward. If you have any questions about being paid the differential, please contact the union office for further clarification.

2008 AFSCME OHIO COUNCIL 8 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARRIVE!

The 2008 scholarship applications are here! This year they are dedicated to Ronal Janetzke and Sandura Payne, two union activists. The office has applications available; however, they are also available at www.ohiocouncil8.com. If you have a senior in high school that is graduating this year and are planning on attending a four year accredited college or university as a full-time student, please encourage then to apply for this scholarship. The deadline is May 1, 2008. good luck to all that apply!

UPCOMING EVENTS REMINDER

This year there will be an AFSCME International convention. It will be held July 26^th Thru August 1^st in San Francisco.

There will also be an AFL-CIO convention held September 9^th thru the 11^th. This year the convention will be held in Cleveland!

For anyone interested in becoming more involved in the political process, AFSCME is looking for election volunteers. The election work will begin October 18 and continue thru to the Election Day on November 4^th. If you are available to walk or phone bank please call the union office at X82551 or X82552!

CALLING ALL RETIREES!

Thinking of retiring in the near future? Not only do we envy you, but we also need you. Stay involved in your union, join AFSCME retiree council and stay active. The local will pay your fir years dues! Please contact the local union office for more information.

NEW MEMBERS

Sue Ables, Angela Adamini, Dalechina Agee, Donna Allen, Megan Alwine, Guy Ashwood, Venus Bartholomen, Mark Bellenger, Jacquelyn Benefield,

Alisha Bonner, LaShelle Bowie, Kristian Brown, Tajrea Bryant, Genedina Claudycan, Tameaka Cannady, Tana Carpenter, Virgen Caraballo, Taurus Carr, Lisa Cerankosky, Norma Claudio, Sandra Crable, Myiou Creyton, Terri Davis, Marybeth DeVito, Candice Donato, Keith Ezell, Ingrid Farley-McGee, Paola Fernandez, Freda Fischer, Angela Floyd, Luz Fontanez-Caraballo, LaJean Freeman, Jasmine Garcia, Dominque Godfrey, Yolanda Goggins, Denita Grandberry, Tiffany Gross, Tamikio Haislah, Delecia Haley, Mandy Harholos, Kenyatta Harmon, Keith Hatten, Damon Hill, Christine Houser, Sarah Jablonski, Patricia Jackson, Brandy Johnson, Joannara Johnson, Renee Kennedy, Carolyn Kercher, Betsy King, Patricia Klepsky, Isa Lanzo, Twanette LeBron, Shirley Lee, Jackie Lewis, Anthony Little, T’yonia Martin, Veronica Matrinez-Bennett, Antonio Mayberry, Robin McCallie, Mathias McCoy, Schrica McDuffie, Tanisha McWilson, Jessica Mendoza, Julia Miklacic, Cheryl Miller-Macker, Norma Mlinaric, Kevin Mitchell, Danielle Monai, Stephanie Moten, Osiris Montanez, Erika Morales, Catherine Mortach, Shawn D. Murphy, Janet Nelson, Gwen Neuman, Lori Nickens, David Ornberg, Tina Ortiz, Candace Pavia, Paula Pennington, Rhonada Perry, Sheka Pickett Rosemary Pitman-Barnes, Monica Phillips, Nguyen Phuongtrang, Nicole Pistilli, Angel Plut, Jamey Purtty, Paula Purpera, Luz Ramos, Ruth Rainda, Jerald Riley, Robin Roberts, Samuel L. Robinson, Gladys Rodriquez, Walter Rosario, Tamika Rucker, Teresita Samerka, Marial Santiago, Lamar Scott, Renee Scott, Maureen Sedlak, Abdul Shelburn, Isabel Soisol, Kera Stallard, Dawn Starkey, Donta Stephaun, Mindy Stewart, Angel Strong, Laurie Taylor, Nickea Taylor, Richard Thompson, Jr., Manya Thomas, Mattie Tipton, La’Quita Tomlin, Laurie Traylor, Myrtell Turner, Samardic Valkjo, Evalin Vaughn, Nancy Velez, Chad Vlrich, Matthew Wagner, Janice Walas, Federick Ware, Ealisa Whitmore, Rodney Wiley, Anthony Williams, Arlandra Williams, Chikia Williams, Tandrena Wilson, Nicole Zagaria Linda Zucher