AFSCME Local 1368 - News

DYS SURVEY

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:55:02 -0400

DYS, in conjunction with the WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT initiative, has issued a very important survey. This survey will be completed online, to ensure it remains totally anonymous. The Local leadership encourages every member to take a few minutes and complete the survey. For those members who do not have access to the Internet, we ask those who do, to assist your Brothers and Sisters in this important task.

In Solidarity,
Chris Gilbert, President

VICTORY ON HEALTH INSURANCE

Mon, 05 May 2008 17:09:05 -0400

Dear AFSCME Member;
We are pleased to inform you that the Massachusetts House of Representatives has voted to REJECT a proposal in the House budget that would have raised state employee health insurance contribution rates by 5% to 10%. This proposal would have resulted in out-of-pocket increases of 33%-67% for our members.
The proposal was defeated through an amendment co-sponsored by 106 of the 160 members of the House. The amendment passed by a vote of 144-10.
While there were widespread reports throughout the week that we would win this fight, the formal vote did not take place until Friday evening at 7:40 P.M.
The budget process now moves to the Senate where Council 93 will continue to aggressively fight any effort to increase your health insurance costs.
Thanks to all who contacted their state representatives to seek their support. Please forward this message to your members.

HEALTH INSURANCE THREAT

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:01:09 -0400

As expected, the House FY09 budget was released yesterday afternoon with a proposed increase in employee health insurance contribution rates. The House plan mirrors the plan proposed by Governor Patrick, which is as follows:
· Workers earning $35,000 to $50,000 would have their premium share increased from 15% to 20%.
· Workers earning $50,000 or above would have their premium share increased from 15% to 25%.
The proposed increases would result in out-of-pocket increases of 33%-67%, depending on a worker’s annual income.
Council 93’s Department of Legislation, Political Action and Communications is working closely with a coalition of other public employee unions to defeat this measure. However, in order to maximize our chances of success, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
State Representative Marty Walsh is sponsoring an amendment to the budget that would eliminate the proposed increase in your contribution rates and maintain current health insurance premium contributions.

Room Confinement Policy 04/09/08

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:53:38 -0400

As many of you may already know, the Department of Youth Services is in the process of creating and rolling out a new policy on ROOM CONFINEMENT. Your Vice President (Bob Amaral), is currently a member of the Policy Steering Committee, representing the Local. As a Groupworker III, with several years of experience, I can assure you, Bob is doing the right thing in representing us all, and making sure our interests/concerns are heard at this level.
On April 8, 2008 both VP Amaral and President Gilbert were invited to the training/roll out for managers held at Bunker Hill Community College in Charlestown. As stated earlier, the day was intended for Mangers, not Labor Relations/Union negotiations. Some uneducated(in Labor Relations) managers from DYS recently made comment to some members that the Union sat there silent and he did all the talking for staff...Pretty brave words BG, not very truthful though.. There is a process and a forum for the Union to speak their minds and concerns(and bargain if necessary) and a Management training is not appropriate.

Health Insurance Premiums

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:13:23 -0500

January 23, 2008

Dear AFSCME Council 93 Member,

As you are aware, Governor Patrick is proposing an increase in state/higher education employee health insurance costs in his FY09 budget.

PRE Employment testing

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:09:58 -0500

As many of you may already know, DYS is in the begining stages of implementing a Pre-Employment test. This will include testing for physical agility, mental stability and drug testing. IT WILL BE MANDATORY FOR ALL NEW HIRES. As I understand it, DYS will be requesting the same program for current employees through the current contract negotiations. At this point, that is a discussion for another day..
The purpose of this notification is that DYS approached the Union seeking "permission" to seek volunteers from the current workforce to assist " Good Samaritans" in the creation of the testing (physical agility test), as they currently work with DOC and feel the program they use needs tweeking to be better suited for DYS...The Union requested, and was given, a written guarentee that none of the volunteer participants would face any sort of discipline in cases of failing the test.

Member burnt out of home

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:23:14 -0500

Dave Berment, Groupworker at Connolly Transition Unit (Roslindale) recently lost all his personal belongings in a fire. Luckily, his family escaped without injury. The Local's Executive Board recently sent Brother Berment a best wishes card from the Local and a $500.00 gift card to Target. Keep Dave and his family in your prayers as they move into their new home and celebrate the Holidays..

BEST OF LUCK BROTHER.

In Solidarity,
Chris Gilbert, President

Caseworker, Transportation Officer and Cook series reclassification money

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:14:24 -0500

The DYS titles (Caseworker, Transportation Officer and Cook series) that received reclassification dollars through the reclassification pool will see that retro active money in the December 14th pay advice.

Raises and Retro pay

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 08:05:26 -0500

It is the Local's understanding the the new salary rates will take affect on
November 16, 2007, and the retro pay (back to July 8) will be in the
November 30th pay check.

Passing of AFSCME Brother Tom White

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:54:03 -0400

The Local has received early reports that Brother Tom White has passed away. Tom was from the Westfield Facility. As more information becomes available, we will send out updates.

In Solidarity,

Chris Gilbert, President

Contract 1 Million Dollar Reclassification Pool

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:25:10 -0400

The Local was able to secure some funds from the 1 Million dollar classification pool.
Here is a breakdown of what we were able to secure:

Transportation Officers will be moved to the "A" payscale (equal to 1.5%)
Caseworkers will be moved to the "A" payscale (equal to 1.5%)
Cooks I, II and III, as well as Supervisor of Cafeteria, will get a 1 grade upgrade, step for step (equal to 5%)

*** This has no bearring on the 17-A process...and is in addition to the 3% raise already owed to us, all of which should be retroactive to July 6, 2007***

Ilya Hoffman Death

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:18:36 -0400

It is with great sadness that I inform you that Ilya Hoffman, a caseworker from the Western Region died suddenly on September 16, 2007. She left DYS on 9/7/07 to take a position with the Committee for Public Counsel, defending clients in the Hampden County courts. She was a caseworker in the Metro Region for several years before coming to Western Massachusetts. A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007 at 2pm at Lyman Hall, 129 Main Street, Northampton, MA.
Ruth Rovezzi, Western Regional Director

Contract Funding

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 08:20:55 -0400

Hi all,
If you get questions from the membership, please let them know the request to fund our contract (and a number of other contracts) was filed by the Governor with the Legislature on the 17th. The bill number for the supplemental budget that includes the contract funding is H4248.
I will get added e-mails out as the bill progresses through the legislative process.
Hope this information is helpful.
Joe DeLorey

STEWARD Training

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:29:48 -0400

AFSCME Stewards In Action
Steward Training
Saturday, September 29, 2007
9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
UMass/Amherst Campus Center Rm. TBA
AFSCME Council 93will be conducting an area-wide Steward Training developed by
AFSCME International. This training is open to all interested AFSCME members not just stewards.
Space is limited so call AFSCME Local 1776 at 413-545-2831 to sign up.
Directions from the East:
Take Mass Turnpike (I-90) to Exit 8 (Route 32, Palmer). Right on Route 32 to U.S. 20. Right on 20 to
Route 181. Right on 181 to U.S. 202 (Belchertown). U.S. 202 to Route 9. Eventually Rt 9 will take you
to the center of Amherst. (You will see Amherst College on your left and the Amherst Common on your
right). Continue on Rt 9 W through the center of town. At the bottom of the hill leading out of town, take
a right onto University Drive. Follow University Drive to the end (you will pass the football stadium of

CONTRACT UPDATE 9/10/07

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:59:00 -0400

As you know, the recent Contract extension allows for a 3% across the board raise. This was to take affect July 6, 2007. As of today, the raise has not kicked in. The Local has asked the Council to seek answers from the Commonwealth as to an implementation date. As soon as we get a date we will pass it along.
On October 2, 2007 the Union will open negotiations for a three year contract. On this date we will sit with the Commonwealth to agree to ground rules, etc. The Union will then meet to form its strategy. As soon as we get our house in order we will update negotiations on this site.