#mntlel

[ibt320]

The Supreme Court and Friedrichs 

[mntlel]

Law Enforcement Appreciation Night event on Feb. 23, 2016 with the Minnesota Wild. Top photo: Steven Warren, Corcoran Police Department; Jeff Beck, Rogers Police Department; Vance Rolfzen, Teamsters Local 320 Business Agent; Joann Springer, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office and Josh Loahr from Dakota County Sheriff’s Office. 

The second photo is of Jeff Beck’s two children, Gavin and Callen. Then children won a ride on the Zamboni between periods. Rolfzen says, “Their smiles tell you how much they appreciated the opportunity!”  For Jeff’s daughter, Callen, this was her first Hockey game.

[ibt320]

Local 320 remembers and celebrates Teamsters who passed away or fallen in 2015. We remember and support law enforcement, first responders and the men and women who served and continue to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

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[ibt320]

Teamsters Local 320 Winter Newsletter 2015

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[ibt320]

Every Teamster will be asked to sign a maintenance of check off card. A maintenance of check off card requires the employer to continue to deduct and remit dues to the Union regardless of the employee’s continued membership status for a period of twelve months from the date that the employee signs the card or until the contract expires, whichever is sooner. The employee can revoke the maintenance of check off card during a window period of sixty to seventy-five days from the signing anniversary date or the expiration of the contract. The employee can still resign from membership at any time, but he or she would still be obligated to pay dues for that time period.

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[ibt320]

Protect Your Rights: Build and Maintain Strength in Your Bargaining Unit and Your Local Union by Reaffirming Your Membership and Signing Maintenance of Check Off Card

In the last few weeks, Teamsters Local 320 has begun implementing a strategic plan to protect all Teamsters in the event that the public sector is subjected to "right to work". In late October, the Union informed all members about theFriedrichs case, which will be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016. If the plaintiffs prevail in that case, public sector unions will no longer be able to collect fair share fees from workers who choose not to be members. In other words, workers will be able to get a free ride by not paying any fees or dues while still receiving the benefits of the contract!

"Right to work" is an unconscionably misleading phrase. It was created by anti-union organizations to disguise the fact that they are attempting to systematically destroy unions in this country. Union members already have the right to work. What the anti-union forces want is to infect unions with freeloaders who pay nothing for the representation the union provides, thereby draining the unions' reserves and severely limiting their ability to stand up to employers and fight on behalf of the members. Make no mistake about it -- right to work is a virus and, if left unchecked, it could decimate the strength of all unions.

As a part of Local 320's strategic plan, it is engaging in a wall-to-wall organizing drive with updated membership applications as well as maintenance of check off cards. Every member will be asked to reaffirm their membership, and fair share payees will be invited to become full members. Every Teamster and fair share payee will be asked to sign a maintenance of check off card. A maintenance of check off card requires the employer to continue to deduct and remit dues to the Union regardless of the employee's continued membership status for a period of twelve months from the date that the employee signs the card or until the contract expires, whichever is sooner. The employee can revoke the maintenance of check off card during a window period of sixty to seventy-five days from the signing anniversary date or the expiration of the contract. The employee can still resign from membership at any time, but he or she would still be obligated to pay dues for that time period.

The maintenance of check off card protects Teamsters from freeloaders who want to stop paying dues. The Union is a non-profit organization. The reason that members pay dues is to build a treasury, which is then used to represent the members. Without sufficient funds in the treasury, the Union cannot provide the required number of staff to represent members in grievance hearings and contract negotiations. Without sufficient funds in the treasury, the Union cannot arbitrate grievances when the employer violates the contract or disciplines members unfairly. Dues money doesn't line anyone's pockets. Dues money ensures that Teamsters receive the representation we deserve.

Copies of the applications and check off cards will be sent to your employer. Employers are watching Friedrichs, too. Employers believe that, if right to work becomes a reality, the strength of Local 320 will falter and they will be able to gut contracts and implement anti-employee rules. When those employers receive a stack of updated membership applications and check off cards, they will know that Local 320 remains strong and will continue to negotiate strong contracts and fight for its members.

Through this wall-to-wall organizing campaign, Teamsters will send an unmistakable message to the anti-union forces that want to destroy us. Every updated membership application and maintenance of check off card delivered to our employers will be another nail in the coffin of the anti-union forces that are pushing right to work. They will never succeed, because we will not let them!

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[ibt320]

The Looming Crisis that Threatens Teamsters Local 320

From the last communication dated Oct. 29, 2015, Teamster members were informed and educated on the looming attack, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association,and what it means for public sector unions nation-wide. Today’s communication is to update Teamsters on how the attack may affect public employees in Minnesota and to explore who is behind the attack. We will also identify the naysayers and briefly discuss Local 320’s strategic plan moving forward.

What Have Been the Consequences of “Right to Work” in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, where Governor Scott Walker decimated public sector unions, the cumulative effect has been devastating. Wisconsin trails Minnesota by every major economic indicator:

Employment growth in Wisconsin has been at less than two-thirds the rate of Minnesota over the past three years. Wisconsin ranks 13th in the country in its rate of employment growth.

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, American Community Survey, real median household income for Wisconsin’s workers shrank 1.39% under Governor Walker.

Governor Walker’s solution to fix Wisconsin’s budget shortfall was to slash $300 million out of higher education funding.

Minnesota enjoys budget surpluses, not shortfalls! Minnesota surpasses Wisconsin in job growth, economic development, income growth, education and health care spending. While Governor Walker decimated public sector unions in Wisconsin, along with workers’ ability to negotiate wages and benefits, Minnesota’s public sector unions continue to thrive. Minnesota isn’t perfect, but Local 320 members know that they are bargaining upward while Wisconsin workers are caught in a race to the bottom.    

Who’s Behind the Attacks?

In a recent article for The American Prospect titled “Who's Behind Friedrichs?” Adele M. Stan, says the “real force” pushing the case is the Center for Individual Rights (CIR), a group whose financial backers “reads like a who’s who of the organized opposition to labor unions. A number of those funders, unsurprisingly, enjoy the support of Charles and David Koch, the billionaire brothers who are principals in Koch Industries, the second-largest privately held corporation in the United States.”

Charles and David Koch have a long and sordid record of financing and supporting anti-union political groups, think-tanks and ballot initiatives. The Koch brothers have a direct connection to Governor Scott Walker and his anti-union policies.

Prepare for the Naysayers

There’s going to be a lot of commotion surrounding Friedrichs and many naysayers are going to come out of the woodwork. Employers are looking to Friedrichs with keen interest and some have already begun testing the waters with outrageous contract proposals and personnel schemes. Not every employer is anxious to see Teamsters lose, but there are always one or more supervisors, administrators, county board members or State Legislators who have anti-union positions. If right to work becomes a reality, then, these anti-union employers will become emboldened.

There will also be naysayers who are Local 320 members or fair share fee payers who want to use Friedrichs as an excuse to quit paying dues or to bash Local 320. They will also become emboldened if right to work becomes the law of the land. Every workplace has one or more of these naysayers and it will be incumbent on every Teamster to support the efforts of Local 320.

Fighting Back Against the Attacks!

Just as employers and corporations combine and strategize, Minnesota’s public sector unions have combined to fight right to work! Teamsters Local 320 has been involved with other Minnesota unions in formulating strategies and tactics to protect public employees’ rights and labor contracts. Local 320 has also been in close contact with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Public Services Division to discuss plans moving forward. Officers and staff of Local 320 have been engaged in strategic planning initiatives to confront the looming crisis.

In the coming weeks and months, Local 320 officers and staff will be contacting every Teamster steward and every Teamster member encouraging a re-commitment to the union. We will ask every Local 320 member to re-sign a membership application in order to strengthen our resolve and send a message to employers that Teamsters are unified. Join us as we embark on a generational challenge to protect and preserve the benefits obtained for members of this union. Join us as we promote the rights of all Minnesota’s public employees through collective bargaining and organizing.

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[ibt320]

Please congratulate all of the Teamsters Local 320 Scholarship winners! 

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