October 2011
MDOT Not Interested in New Solutions?
It looks like MDOT’s director did not read the New Solutions report. There are 19 manager jobs listed out of the 25 positions posted for the Department of Transportation on the state jobs website. Of the manager positions, 7 of them are labeled as “new”. This report calls for less managers and more front-line workers, less contracting out, and more input from workers in order to make government more efficient. A big thumbs down goes to MDOT for not following the New Solutions Report.
Region 1 Endorses Local Candidates
The SEIU Local 517M Region 1 membership has endorsed candidates Ernie Ahmad, Annie Boensch, Norman Braddock, Cirven Merrill and Amos O’Neal for the upcoming Saginaw City Council seats. Ruth Ann Knapp and Rudy Patterson secured endorsements on their bids for Saginaw City Schools Board of Education seats from the SEIU membership as well.
“All eleven candidates who filled out our questionnaires and participated in our candidate forum last week needed to be familiar with our New Solutions for Michigan Campaign, and apply the same revenue savings principles to come up with ideas on how we could create New Solutions for the City of Saginaw and Saginaw Public Schools” said Marianne Woods, Member Leadership and Action Director for SEIU 517M.
“The endorsed candidates demonstrated the highest level of commitment to our New Solutions campaign. With our city and school district’s economic challenges, these candidates truly have the best interest of all who live, work and go to school in our community” Woods further stated. The New Solutions for Michigan report can be viewed in its entirety here.
Scientific and Engineering PDF Funding Unavailable
Unfortunately, the last extension of the SEIU Scientific and Engineering Agreement did not include funding for the Professional Development Fund for Fiscal Year 2012. No training funds were funded for any Unions or non-exclusively represented employees. We are still working with the Office of the State Employer to obtain funding for at least a portion of the year but have not yet been successful. Future funding is subject to negotiations that are taking place right now.
State Employee Bargaining Update
SEIU and the other four unions in the Coalition of State Employees Unions spent the better part of the last two weeks working hard to fashion contract proposals that form a fresh approach to bargaining. A key proposal was fashioned around the New Solutions For Michigan report that was released earlier this year to the Governor as well as members in the Legislature. Bargaining has been challenging because the ” Michigan and national economy is challenging” said George Heath President of the SEIU Technical bargaining unit, one of three SEIU Local 517M bargaining units at the table. ” Our goal is to promote new and innovative ideas that both protect our members’ benefits while directing adequate resources to front line services for Michigan citizens.” Bargaining will continue in to the second week of October as the Coalition and the State Employer try to reach a voluntary agreement that could be sent out to the membership for ratification. If, however an agreement can not be reached, both sides will present their issues to the Civil Service Impasse Panel in early November. The Impasse Panel will make its recommendation to the Civil Service Commission for formal action at their December meeting.
State to Appeal Healthcare 3 Percent Ruling
The State of Michigan is filing for leave to appeal with the Michigan Supreme court to try and overturn the Appeals Court ruling that ordered the State to return the 3 percent retirement healthcare contribution to employees. Legislation was passed that required employees to begin paying 3 percent of their salaries toward retiree health care. But on August 26, 2011 the Court of Appeals ruled that was unconstitutional. The state had 42 days to give the money back, or appeal. The money will remain in escrow until final disposition of the matter.
Public school employees, who also have been paying the 3 percent, are not affected.
Unit Boards
Human Services Support Unit
Unit President/Divisional Vice President: Phillip Patrick
Vice President/Grievance Coordinator: Denise Edwards
Board Members:
Jeanette Brown
Joey Combs
Amy Davis Comstock
Joe Gabelsberger
Luvy Martinez
Rosanne Seemann
Scientific and Engineering Unit:
Unit President/Divisional Vice President: Amy Lipset
Unit Secretary: Steve Weis
Board Members:
Jeff Braunscheidel – DNR
Arina Gould Ferdig – MDA
Daryl Gotham – DEQ
Bryan Grochowski – DEQ
Steve Haskell – DCH
James Malloy – DNR
Shelia Meese – MSP
Jennifer Osborne – MDOT
Art Slabosky – MDOT
Cindy Zastrow – LARA
Scott Zeeb – MDA
Technical Unit:
Unit President/Divisional Vice President: George Heath
Vice President: John Eck
Secretary/Treasurer: Mike Mandrick
Board Members:
Chapter 1 – Paul Dumonthier
Chapter 2 – Tammy Cruickshank
Chapter 3 – Steve Ludwick
Chapter 4 – Kim Grezesak
Chapter 5 – Jeff Morgenthaler
Chapter 6 – Rick Brower
Chapter 7 – Duane Cashier
Chapter 8 – Bob Smrek
Chapter 9 – Julie Bullion
Chapter 10 – Channing Page
Chapter 11 – Tim McNea
Chapter 12 – Donna Huntzinger
Chapter 13 – Arnold Beller
Chapter 14 – Michael Hughes
Negotiations Chair: Arnold Beller
Grievance Committee Chair: Rick Brower
Chapter Officer Listing
1 MARQUETTE (UP WEST) – Mark Koetje, Governor; Mark Petrie, Vice Governor
2 NEWBERRY (UP-EAST) – Cory Luoto, Governor; Jim Waybrant, Vice Governor
3 CADILLAC AREA – Brian Flickinger, Governor; James Malloy, Vice Governor
4 GAYLORD/GRAYLING/ROSCOMMON AREA – Tim Greco, Governor; David Lindsay, Vice Governor
5 GRAND RAPIDS AREA – Jeff Morgenthaler, Governor; Tanya Andryscik, Vice Governor
6 SAGINAW/TRI-CITIES AREA – Michael Young, Governor; Daryl Gotham, Vice Governor
7 KALAMAZOO/PLAINWELL AREA – Governor Vacant; Michael Baranoski, Vice Governor
8 JACKSON/ANN ARBOR AREA – Greg Merricle, Governor;Paul Cristini, Vice Governor
9 LANSING – LARA – Brent Pennala, Governor; Vice Governor Vacant
10 LANSING – DEQ/DCH LABS – Donna Huntzinger, Governor; Daniel Freeman, Vice Governor
11 LANSING – MDOT (DESIGN & ENGINEERING SERVICES) – Ken Tiffany, Governor; Therese Kline, Vice Governor
12 LANSING – SECONDARY COMPLEX – Greg Kozak, Governor; Tom Killingsworth, Vice Governor
13 LANSING – MDOT (EXCEPT DESIGN AND PLANNING) – Leo Arens, Governor; Dean Kanitz, Vice Governor
14 LANSING – MDOT (PLANNING) – Brad Winkler, Governor; Richard Bayus, Vice Governor
15 LANSING – DEQ (AQD, GEOLOGICAL LAND MGMT) – Jeff Rathbun, Governor; Amy Lounds, Vice Governor
16 LANSING – DEQ – ENVIRON. SCIENCE AND SERVICES, WATER, OGL – Matt Staron, Governor; Vice Governor Vacant
17 LANSING – DEQ- WHMD, REMEDIATION AND REDEVELOPMENT – Ron Smedley, Governor; Charles Graff, Vice Governor
18 LANSING – AGR LAB – Betty Barry, Governor; Arina Gould Ferdig, Vice Governor
19 METRO EXCEPT WARREN AND CADILLAC PLACE – Ray Klucens, Governor; Frank Iacopelli, Vice Governor
20 WARREN – Jennifer Hazelton, Governor; Vice Governor Vacant
21 DEQ – LANSING DISTRICT, DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE – Steve Blayer, Governor; Vice Governor Vacant
22 CADILLAC PLACE – DOWNTOWN DETROIT – Steve Weis, Governor; Jill Placco, Vice Governor
Legislator Health Care Changes
This story appeared in the October 3, 2011 edition of MIRS:
95 Lawmakers Hit By Updated Lifetime Benefits Ban
A new version of a bill killing so-called “lifetime” health care benefits for lawmakers is up in the Legislature this week and would apply to almost every House member, but protects almost the entire Senate.
Under a substitute of HB 4087 sponsored by Rep. Joel JOHNSON (R-Clare), lawmakers who aren’t fully vested by Jan. 1, 2013, would not be eligible for retirement health benefits.
Currently, the state is required to kick in 90 percent of the retiree health insurance premium payments for legislators elected after March 31, 1997. To qualify, lawmakers must have served at least six years and be at least 55. Coverage typically lasts until they’re 65, when Medicare benefits begin.
So the bill would take away the benefit for all but 14 current House members and just two senators — Sens. Pat COLBECK (R-Canton) and Vince GREGORY (D-Southfield). Unlike other freshman senators, Colbeck never served in the House and thus wouldn’t be vested by 2013. Gregory only served one House term.
The Senate is slated to take up the bill this week, probably on Wednesday, said Amber McCANN, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Randy RICHARDVILLE (R-Monroe). The issue is one of the Senate GOP’s top fall priorities (See “Tide Changing On NITC In Senate?” 9/21/11).
The original version of HB 4087 would have been retroactive and applied to every lawmaker in office, eliminating health care benefits for legislators taking office on or after Jan. 1, 2007.
“Some wanted it to be retroactive. Some didn’t,” McCann said. “This represents a compromise.”
MIRS asked about legal concerns about the legislation applying to current lawmakers. She said that it’s her understanding that there are no constitutional concerns with the new version of the bill.
Sen. Rick JONES (R-Grand Ledge) has long banged on the lifetime benefits issue and had a version of the bill (SB 0026), but MIRS has learned that his will not be the one to go to Gov. Rick SNYDER‘s desk.
HSS Unit Survey
You received a unit survey a while back about improving the Unemployment Agency. If you haven’t had time to complete that survey you can now do it on-line! We really need to hear your ideas. As the front-line provider of services, you know best how to improve the system. Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey. Thank you.