NOVEMBER 12th 2007
The following people have accepted nominations to run for the following offices.
Chief Steward Trades/Other
Don Long
Pete McDonald
Brian Spangler
Chief Steward Custodial
Ruth Barrett
Vice-President
Greg Buchanan
Todd Haggart
Secretary
Lynn McClain
Treasurer
Josh McDonald
Linda Rood
Executive Board (4seats)
Sue Bechtel
Calvin Cain
Dan Garver
Rich Gross
Sheryl Jerome
Bill Lukens
Joy Master
Jeff Schafer
Guy Smith
Patty Zuker
Trustee
Steve Bunting
The election will be held December 6th at the Coaches Hall of Fame room at the west end of the Student Activity Center from 7:00a.m. till 5:00p.m.
NEW MEMBERS
We’d like to congratulate and welcome the following new members:
Scott Sheredy, Lori Slater and Robert Evans.
We’re sorry to report that John Fetzner, Journeyman Maintenance Mechanic, passed away on Saturday, October 27th. Our condolences go out to John’s family and all who knew him.
BEREAVEMENT FUND
At the October meeting, membership voted to replace the practice of the local giving a $20.00 check to members who’ve lost loved ones with a different way to memorialize the loss of loved ones. The union at the end of 2008 will make a lump sum contribution in the amount of $300.00 to Hospice House in memory of members’ loved ones. If you hear of a member losing a loved one please contact one of us so their name can be included.
BARGAINING SURVEY
Our current contract expires in July of next year. A bargaining research committee has been formed to survey membership, study contracts and bargaining issues and assist the elected bargaining team. Please fill out and return the enclosed survey and feel free to add comments so that the committee can assess how membership feels about the issues concerning contract negotiations.
NOMINATIONS FOR BARGAINING TEAM
Nominations for bargaining team will take place at the December membership meeting on December 17th at 4:30p.m.at the union hall at 2185 Third Street Mt. Pleasant. The bargaining team election will be held January 6th at the Coaches Hall of Fame room at the west end of the Student Activity Center from 7:00a.m. till 5:00p.m.
DUES INCREASE
AFSCME International will be raising their monthly minimum dues rate for 2008 by $1.90 per member. This means that we must, according to our constitution, raise our local dues rate to cover this increase.
OFFICER PAY
At the November membership meeting, the members voted unanimously to approve a motion to amend the constitution to allow for the following raises in officer pay:
The President -from $52.50 per month to $70.00 per month
The vice-president – from $30.00 per month to $40.00 per month
The chief stewards –from $30.00 per month to $40.00 per month
The secretary –from $30.00 per month to $40.00 per month
The treasurer – from $30.000 per month to $40.00 per month
The amended constitution must now be sent to International for their approval.
ABSENTEEISM
As mentioned in the last newsletter, the University had notified the union of their intent to implement a revised attendance program with stricter limits on non-fml sick time usage. Since then the University has decided to go back to the terms of the program as they were originally. In discussions with representatives from Council 25 and the Department of Labor, it has become clear that the University is within their rights to implement such a program. 20 hours or more per quarter or 80 hours or more per year of sick, family sick or unpaid absences which are not covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act will put one on review and may lead to discipline. A pattern of absence such as always missing the day after a holiday or frequently missing Fridays may also lead to discipline. Supervisors will be providing everyone in Facilities Management with a copy of the program soon. We encourage everyone to read it thoroughly.
FML If you have a serious health condition that may cause you to be absent from work, you should ask for an FML eligibility check list:
http://www.hrs.cmich.edu/download-files/fml-eligibility-checklist.pdf.
Listed below are the qualifying reasons for Family Medical Leave:
IS TIME OFF FOR FML QUALIFYING REASON?
a) Birth of a child? Yes No
b) Placement of Child for Adoption? Yes No
c) Placement of Child for Foster Care? Yes No
Note: Employee be sure to fill out and submit a status change form to Benefits office within 30 days for any
of the above. (See www.hrs.cmich.edu for the form)
d) Serious Health Condition* involving one of the following:
1) Inpatient Care (i.e. overnight stay) in a hospital, hospice or medical care facility,
including any period of incapacity and subsequent treatments related to same? Yes No
2) Incapacity of more than 3 calendar days with treatment 2 or more times? Yes No
3) Incapacity of more than 3 calendar days with one treatment resulting in therapy
or prescription? Yes No
4) Prenatal care or incapacity due to pregnancy? Yes No
5) Incapacity (or treatment) due to chronic serious health condition? Yes No
6) Incapacity, permanent or long term, for which treatment may not be effective? Yes No
7) Absence for multiple treatments for restorative surgery, chemotherapy,
radiation, physical therapy, etc.? Yes No
If you can answer yes to any of these questions then your leave of absence should be protected. It is very important that you provide the University with any required certification to substantiate your leave. A serious Health Condition must be for one of the following: Employee, Child under 18 or 18 years and older if incapable of self-care due to disability, Parent, Spouse
2008 Membership Meeting Schedule
General Membership Meetings are held on the third Monday* of every month at the Union Hall at 2185 Third Street Mt. Pleasant at 4:30pm.
*except the November meeting which will be held the first Monday.
January 21st February 18th March 17th
April 21st May 19th June 16th
July 21st August 18th September 15th
October 20th November 3rd December 15th
Executive Board Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every Month.
Location – Saxe Hall Lower Rec Room.
Time- 11:30am to Noon
DATES TO REMEMBER
December 6th 2007 officer elections – SAC Coaches Hall of Fame Room
December 17th 2007 nominations for bargaining team members – membership meeting
January 10th 2008 election of bargaining team members - SAC Coaches Hall of Fame Room
I hope everyone has a nice holiday season!
In Unity
Tobin Hope, President
AFSCME Local 1568