Mar—Apr 2006 -- VOL. 17, No. 2

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT…

 

     Many of you have stopped me in the halls to ask about contract negotiations.  Our current contract expires in February of 2007.  In the past, we sent out a survey and asked bargaining unit employees to give us their feedback by returning the surveys to the union office.  While we will continue to ask for your input, we are trying to get a more complete picture of what the bargaining unit needs.

 

     Beginning with this newsletter, the leadership will be sending out a series of surveys.  This is your opportunity to have your voice heard on the issues which will affect you.  Please take the time to fill them out and return them to the union office.

 

     We remain dedicated to the membership and this local.  We will work with you and for you! 

 

 

BARE BONES AT SKILLED WEST

 

     The staff at Skilled West has been finding it difficult to complete 12 hours or more of work in 8 hours.  The union doesn’t see why, they should just work from the time they enter the premises until it is past time to go home.  No need for breaks or lunches, no need to worry about overtime pay, just work, work, work.  Never mind your contract which gives you two fifteen minute breaks and a thirty minute lunch. Throw caution to the wind and work, work, work.

 

     The budget is being squeezed at Skilled West and administration has found a new meaning for “do more with less”.  There are several classifications which are working out of their job descriptions due to the “downsizing” of position(s).  Even though the number of people to do the work has decreased, the work itself remains at the same level.  The union understands the employees’ desire to care for their patients above all else, however, if the employees are burned out, they are less able to care for and serve the patients.  Taking breaks and lunches helps both the employees and the residents.  Recently the Union met with Skilled West bargaining unit employees and the leadership is currently working on solutions to their problems.

 

 

WEB NEWS

 

     The union office continues to make strides to open up communication lines with the membership.  You can now leave e-mail questions to vp3360@aol.com.  This web address belongs to the vice president and will be monitored daily.  Use this e-mail address for general questions that are not an emergency.  If you are having an emergent problem please call the union office at 82551 or 82552.

 

 

SMOKING POLICY UPDATE

 

     Effective February 1, 2006 the new smoking policy went into effect.  Smoking by employees will be permitted only in designated areas.  These designated areas are the smoking huts that are in various locations throughout the MetroHealth Campus.  Employees caught smoking in places other than the designated smoking areas will be subject to progressive discipline.

 

 

 

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

 

When is the proper time to turn in vacation requests?

 

     Vacation requests for the vacation season of May 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007 are due in to your supervisor by March 31, 2006.  Vacation requests turned in after March 31, 2006 will be granted on a first come first served basis as operational needs will allow.

 

 

WAL-MART, WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

 

     At a recent early monthly meeting, the question was raised: Why should we care about Wal-Mart?   As taxpayers we all need to be concerned about Wal-Mart.  According to a testimony by Amy Hanauer published on the Policy Matters Ohio website, most Wal-Mart employees do not get health insurance through the company.  Therefore Wal-Mart employees have to rely on state provided health coverage which comes from your tax dollars.  Also consider the following facts as published in the transcripts from Policy Matters Ohio.

 

OFF CLOCK WORK:  There are 40 wage and hour violations cases currently pending against the company, alleging that the company forced workers to work off the clock and failed to provide benefits.

    

WORKER’S COMPENSATION:  The Washington State Department of Labor and Industry found that Wal-Mart did not allow workers to file accident reports or worker’s compensation claims.

 

DIVERSITY:  Wal-Mart has been found guilty of race discrimination and a case still pending charges that Wal-Mart discriminated on the basis of gender with regard to women in the areas of pay and promotions.  A complete copy of the transcript from which the above was taken is available on the Policy Matters Ohio website at www.policymattersohio.org.

 

     Every time you make a purchase from Wal-Mart you are saying that you agree to support its employees with your tax dollars while Wal-Mart is making billons in profits and systematically forcing other US companies to close their doors forever.  

 

     Visit www.walmartworkersrights.org, this site contains a parody of a singing Garth Brooks.  Wal-Mart may have cheaper prices (a few dollars and cents), but the cost to the community far outweighs the few dollars you may save.  It is time for us as Union members to take a stand and say we are not going to support a company that mistreats its employees and forces its employees on state assisted healthcare.

 

 

FREE FAMILY FUN FOR ALL

 

     May 5th thru the 7th at the Cleveland I-X Center a free Trade Show called America @ Work is being held. The show features100%unionmade, American-made products, Services and Jobs!  Admission is free.  There will be live demonstrations and $1 million in free prizes.  A sample of some of the prizes from 2005 are a Ford Focus, Harley Davidson Motorcycle, Hawaiian Cruise, Refrigerators, Airline Tickets, Maytag Washer and Dryer, Tractors, Vacuum Cleaners, Groceries and more!  There will be a brand new Harley Davidson Motorcycle up for grabs this year in Cleveland.  Come find out how you can still find American-Made/Union-Made goods and services!

 

     The hours are 11am -8pm Fri. & Sat. and 11am to 7pm on Sunday.  For more details see our bulletin boards or you can go to the website www.UnionInsustriesShow.org.

 

 

THE MINIMUM WAGE IN OHIO

 

     In the months leading to the November elections this year, you will be hearing a lot of discussion about the Minimum Wage. Currently in Ohio our state minimum wage is $4.25.  There are two Minimum Wages, one is at the Federal level and the other is at the State level.  It is important to realize that workers who work for minimum wage are among the working poor.  These workers often depend on state assisted programs to bridge the gap in the areas of healthcare and other social services.  Employees in this group have very little money to add to the overall economy.

 

     The last time the Federal minimum wage was raised was in 1997, that rate currently stands at $5.15.  The states figure of $4.25 covers some farms, small business and most restaurants.  Large business and other industries are covered by the Federal wage of $5.15.  Over the last nine years, Inflation has lowered the true value of the minimum wage. Approximately two million workers received the minimum wage in 2004, which is 2.7% of the overall workforce, many are under 25 and female head of household.

 

     The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACRON), along with the AFL-CIO, is supporting a petition campaign to put the issue of raising the minimum wage in Ohio on the November ballot. A state constitutional amendment is needed to raise the minimum wage to $6.85. We need to help the more unfortunate workers!  If you encounter this petition, please sign it. Petitions are in the union office.  It is important to everyone, that this issue be put to a vote.  It’s time to say goodbye to the working poor and hello to being self sufficient.

 

 

EARLY MEETING

 

     The leadership of local 3360 has decided to try on a trial basis having two monthly meetings.  The first trial meeting took place on February 28, 2006.  The early meeting was held at 3:45 pm till 5pm.  The regular membership meeting began at 5:00pm and lasted till 6:00pm.  This was done in an effort to reach more union members.  The February meetings did not result in a quorum at either time.  This trial run of having two meeting will continue for the March Membership meeting which is scheduled for March 28, 2006.  The early meeting will begin at approximately 3:45pm and run until 5:00pm.  The second meeting will begin at 5:00pm and run until approximately 6:00pm.  The decision as to whether or not to change the time of the membership meeting will be decided by the leadership.

 

WHAT’S IN A TABOR?

 

     First of all, what IS a TABOR? TABOR stands for Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.  This is also known as a TEL or Tax Expenditure Limitation. Sounds good right?   WRONG!  Both Ken Blackwell and Jim Petro have introduced legislation to pass a TABOR for Ohioans. The TABOR proposed for Ohio is similar to the one that was repealed in Colorado. Let us learn from other states mistakes. The Tabor passed by Colorado voters in 1992, was a state constitutional amendment to limit the annual increase in revenue that state and local governments could spend.  This amendment required voter approval on all tax increases and mandated that tax dollars collected above the limit set be returned to the public.  First of all from experience we know that no tax increases lead to poor school performance and lack of city services. As for the money back, it was such a small amount, that most people would have been happier with better schools and faster police, fire and emergency response time.

 

     TABOR for Colorado ultimately meant that costs of government services rose and the amounts of money spent on the same services could not rise.  Colorado had one of the best school systems in the states, after a few years with TABOR, their ranking fell to one of the worst.  In terms of social effects, their on-time vaccination of children fell from 20th in 1995 to 50th in 2003.  Things got so bad in Colorado that in November of 2005 voters lifted the   TABOR.     Ohio’s TABOR would result in the same funding shortfalls that occurred in Colorado. The above information was taken from a study done by Policy Matters Ohio called “A Lesson for Ohio: Colorado Voters Decide to Suspend Limits”.  The webs address www.policymattersohio.org. Please vote NO on the TABOR or TEL this coming November!! 

 

 

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

 

Condolences: to Dorothy Rucker and her family on the loss of Dorothy’s mother-in-law on November 13, 2005 and also for the loss of Dorothy’s father on December 28, 2005.

 

 

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

 

     The 2006 AFSCME Ohio Council 8 Larry Ervin and Pierrette Talley Scholarship applications are available in the union office.  All high school graduates who are planning to attend a 4 year college should apply. 

 

     You can also visit their website at http://www.afscmeohiocouncil8.org to download the application and receive tips on applying.  Keep in mind the deadline is May 1, 2006.

 

 

TAX TIPS FOR EVERYONE

 

     It’s that dreaded time of year again.  Time to file our taxes with Uncle Sam.  The following are some easy to follow ideas which can make the process smoother.

1.      Organize your records and receipts throughout the year and keep them all in one place.

2.      Don’t Procrastinate!  The sooner you tackle them, the more time you’ll have to sort out questions or problems.

3.      Look up the IRS Online to download forms, ask questions and link to e-file.

4.      Get Tax Assistance for Free.  The IRS tax line is available until April 13th.

5.      Double Check. Check your spelling and math.  Make sure the forms are legible.

6.      Stay Calm if you owe the IRS money.  They will accept credit cards and payment plans.

7.      Apply for an Extension.  If you are not ready by April15th, file for an extension.  To avoid penalties you must still pay any money you owe by April 15th.

            Contact the IRS at www.IRS.gov.

 

             

NEW FACES, NEW PLACES

 

     There are a few new faces at Metro and Skilled West.  Some of the employees from Skilled East have been bidding on jobs on this campus in order to secure a position prior to Skilled East’s move to South.  We welcome these employees into our bargaining unit and wish them success in their new positions.

 

 

KRONOS

 

     As you may have heard MetroHealth is putting a new timekeeping and payroll system in place.  All hourly employees will be required to track their hours by swiping their employee ID into the KRONOS system.  Employees will no longer use time clocks or sign in logs.  All tardiness and call ins will be tracked by this system automatically.  Make sure you are on time.  Remember even one minute late coming in at the beginning of your shift or returning one minute late from lunch is a tardy.

 

 

 

NEW MEMBERS

 

Michelle Anderson, Larissa Atterberry, Louise Anthony, Larissa Atterberry, Jennifer Brooks, Tarae Brown, Brigid Canon, Chanik Chambliss, Tiffany Carder, Pamela Carter, Shannon Coyle, Donna Davis, Matthew Duchnowski, Sala Dunson, Darlene Flynt, Rakeisha M. Fox, Mathes Gerice, Steen Goolsby, Matthew Hayes, Helen Hall, Jennifer Higgins, Dekisha Humphrey, Diane Jackson, Tanzie Jenkins, Patrick Kinney, Leisha Kowski, Matthew Lee, Heather Lewis, Santos Lugo, Rhonda Maholtz, Krissy Melendez, Brenda Mitchell, Norma Monroe, Mary Naha, Ebonie Nolan, Taliesha Orr, Joanne Overton, Gary Pec, Julie Psota, Amy Reilly, Edgar Rosario, Annette Russell, Ami Ryman, Tamra Tabb, Camile Sanchez, Virginia Sessin, Dawn Shaw, Erin Soltis, Marie Sottosanti, Denise Ventura, Derrick Walters, Jannisse Walker, Melissa White, Farida Williams, Shelley Williams, Lillian Wright, John Zielinske.