Teamsters Local 320 Newsletter

INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS PUBLIC AND LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES UNION
LOCAL 320
Summer 2015 Edition
Volume XVIII - Issue #2
TEAMSTERS ON THE MARCH!

IN THIS ISSUE...

2. Secretary-Treasurers Report, Brian Aldes

3.
President Emeritus James R. Hoffas 1958 Letter to all Teamster

members, Locals, Joint Councils and Conferences

4.
Presidents Report, Sami Gabriel

4.
Vice Presidents Report, Curt Swenson

5.
Know Your Rights, Paula Johnston

5.
Recording Secretarys Report, Craig Johnson

6.
Teamsters Service Bureau, Teamsters Credit Union, Teamsters

Privilege and Joint Council 32 D.R.I.V.E.
OFFICERS AND STAFF

Brian Aldes
Secretary-Treasurer and
Principal Officer
Sami Gabriel
President/Business Agent
Curt Swenson
Vice President/Business Agent
Craig Johnson
Recording-Secretary/
Business Agent
Marcia (Marty) Lamb
Trustee, St. Paul ISD 625
Richard Wheeler
Trustee, MSUAASF
Alston Dutchin
Trustee, U of M
Paula Johnston
General Counsel
Local 320 Business Agents

Amy Hill
Bob Kolstad
Michael Kopp
Roger Meunier
Terry Neuberger
Vance Rolfzen
Erik Skoog
Communications | Lobbyist
Gus Froemke
Lead Organizer
Josh Intemann
Support Staff
Susan Bastian
Ron Phillips
Suzanne Slawson
Joni Spaulding
Kristi Ziegler
Katie Ziembo
Minneapolis, MN
Local Union Office
8:00am - 4:00pm
P: 612-378-8700
F: 612- 331-8948
1-800-637-5430
Online
www.teamsterslocal320.org
Email
[email protected]
LOCAL 320 SECRETARY-TREASURERS REPORT
BIG TEAMSTER CONTRACTS UP

By Brian Aldes
Teamsters Local
320 is in the process

of negotiating its
major labor contracts
with the State. Those
units include both
public university
systems, State Court Administration and
the Board of Public Defense.
The executive level state employees
reached a tentative contract agreement
on June 26, 2015. The deal includes a 2.5
percent raise effective July 1, 2015 plus
a 2.5 percent raise effective July 1, 2016.
There will be step increases for both years
of the contract. This agreement covers over
17,000 state employees.
We are looking for the same, similar or
even better with our Teamster contracts
and we will not relent. We wont let workers
fall behind!
Both the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities System (MnSCU) and the
University of Minnesota received additional
monies for operations; however, neither
system reached their full funding request.
Minnesotas public universities and colleges were shortchanged by the State Legislature and will have to raise tuition in order to
meet inflationary pressures. Please know
that the State Legislature had the power
and resources to fully fund Higher Ed but
failed to do so.
The Board of Public Defense and State
Court Administration were able to secure
a nine percent (9%) funding increase over
the 2016-2017 biennium.
Published by
Teamsters Local 320
3001 University Ave SE #500
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Because there wasnt a tax bill during the

session no changes were made to Local
Government Aid (LGA) to cities or County
Program Aid (CPA) to counties.
Page 2
Education funding for public schools was

undoubtedly the most contested and controversial item before the State Legislature.
The Special Session was able to push a
deal between Governor Dayton and the
GOP-controlled House. The final budget
provides $525 million for funding increases:
$63 million will go toward the general
education funding formula, equaling a two
percent (2%) increase for each year of the
2016-2017 biennium. The remainder of
the funding increases will go toward early
learning scholarships and School Readiness programs.
The State of Minnesota continues to be
strong economically: Minnesota collected
$555 million more in taxes over the last
three months than state economists had
predicted in February as both individual
and corporate income turned out higher
than expected.
A strong state economy is good for Local
320s membership as it provides not only
additional monies to state and local coffers,
but it provides a safety net for workers to
spend money.
Both the Minnesota and U.S. economy
are consumption based (consumer driven
economies) and perpetuated by consumer
activity. When workers have more disposable income they tend to make big and
lasting purchases that churn through the
economy creating additional demand for
goods and services. More money in workers pockets makes for a stronger economy
and a better Minnesota.
In closing, the State Legislature set up a
statewide alert system (Blue Alert) to catch
suspected police killers. Like the Amber
Alert to find children, the Blue Alert would
be used to get the publics help to track
down a suspect when police officers are
killed or wounded.
JAMES R. HOFFA
(PRESIDENT EMERITUS)
We should be opposed to bigotry and racial

discrimination at every turn... -1958
Page 3
PRESIDENTS REPORT
TEAMSTERS WOMENS CONFERENCE

By Sami Gabriel
Teamsters Local 320 selected three union stewards to

attend this years Teamsters
Womens Conference held
August 27-29 in Boston.
The three-day event consistently features an impressive program of speakers,

dozens of educational workshops and union-building activities.
The Teamsters Womens conference is a great opportunity for Teamster sisters from Local 320 to network with
other Teamster sisters throughout the United States and
Canada.
Please join us in congratulating our stewards!
Teamster sisters are provided the opportunity to share

experiences, ideas and much more. It is our hope that our
Teamster Stewards will learn from other Teamster sisters
and bring back lots of knowledge and also provide their
own ideas to others!
Heather Ahern: 1st Judicial District

Marika Olivier: Crow Wing County
Leslie Hauge: Otter Tail County
We look forward to memorable lessons and empowerment for the more than 1,000 Teamster sisters expected
to attend!
VICE PRESIDENTS REPORT
HARD BARGAINING AT THE U OF M

By Curt Swenson
Below is an excerpt from the Teamster Bargaining

Team statement:
At the University of Minne-
sota, the Teamster Bargaining Team outright rejected

managements opening wage
proposal of 0.75% C.O.L.A.
Please go to our web page for
the video statement from the
Bargaining Team at: www.teamsterslocal320.org
The University brought to us an insulting proposal

of .75% per hour cost of living increase. We were
all appalled by the offer.
We told the University the offer is insulting.
0.75% equals about 12 cents per hour on average.
Both the Bargaining Team and myself were appalled by the opening offer. The University secured
an additional biennial total of $65.2 million from the
State Legislature and was provided the ability to
raise tuition by 1.8% each year. We know they have
more money in reserves and in separate operating
funds. We will not settle until we have a look at their
books!
We know they can afford to treat us fairly.

The University needs to know that its employees
are first class and they should be paid and treated
accordingly.
The University needs to know that we are united in
our opposition to this insulting offer.
Page 4
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: WHAT IS A GARRITY WARNING?
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: GENERAL COUNSEL

By Paula Johnston
In Garrity v. New Jersey, 385 U.S. 493 (1967),
the United States Supreme Court held that the

protection of the individual under the Fourteenth
Amendment against coerced statements prohibits
use in subsequent criminal proceedings of statements obtained under threat of removal from
office, and that it extends to all, whether they
are policemen or other members of our body
politic. In other words, if a public employee
is compelled to produce information under
threat of discipline or discharge, that information cannot be used in the criminal prosecution of that individual employee.
When a public employer conducts an investigation into employment misconduct that may
involve criminal activity, it should provide the
employee a Garrity warning before questioning him or her. The warning should state that
the employee is being compelled to answer
the employers questions, and that if he or
she refuses the refusal could result in severe
discipline or discharge.
Even if the employer does not provide the warning,

the employees statements will still be protected so
long as the employer compelled the employee to
answer the questions. Since the Garrity right is constitutionally based, it cannot be waived or forfeited.
Generally, compulsion occurs when the employee
is threatened with
severe sanctions,
such as termination,
for failing to answer
questions from the
employer.
The Garrity right
should not be confused with blanket
immunity. Statements made during
the employment
investigation cannot
be used to prosecute the employee,
but if the investigating agency discovers the same
information in some other way the employee could still
face criminal charges.
RECORDING SECRETARYS REPORT
REMEMBER 1934 PLAQUE UNVEILING

By Craig Johnson
On July 18
the Remember 1934 Committee, Local

120, other Teamster Locals
including 320, and various
other community and activist
groups met to unveil a permanent plaque to commemorate the strikers who fought
and died during the 1934 Teamsters Strike.
th
The plaque is at the very corner where on Bloody

Friday striker Henry Ness was shot and killed. Bob
Kolstad of Local 320 invocated the ceremony.
Left: Teamsters Local 320 members at unveiling ceremony.

Right: Tom Keegel, Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus of the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters addressed the crowd
at the unveiling ceremony.
Page 5
The Teamsters Service Bureau provides FREE

CONFIDENTIAL services for you and your family.
Our professional counselors

can help you with:
We can assist you with balancing and managing many

of lifes challenges.

Remember... Problems and stress can and do happen!
Call the Service Bureau today. Were here to help!
612-676-3700 (or 24-hour toll free 1-800-979-9725)
Emotional Concerns
Financial Problems
Family/Marriage Issues
Chemical Dependency
Stress/Anxiety and
Depression
Legal Concerns

Teamsters Local 320 Newsletter

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Teamsters Local 320 Newsletter

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Teamsters Local 320 Newsletter

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS PUBLIC AND LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES UNION

Volume XVIII - Issue #2

TEAMSTERS ON THE MARCH!

OFFICERS AND STAFF

Local 320 Business Agents

LOCAL 320 SECRETARY-TREASURERS REPORT

BIG TEAMSTER CONTRACTS UP

320 is in the process

Because there wasnt a tax bill during the

Education funding for public schools was

We should be opposed to bigotry and racial

TEAMSTERS WOMENS CONFERENCE

Teamsters Local 320 selected three union stewards to

The three-day event consistently features an impressive program of speakers,

Please join us in congratulating our stewards!

Teamster sisters are provided the opportunity to share

Heather Ahern: 1st Judicial District

VICE PRESIDENTS REPORT

HARD BARGAINING AT THE U OF M

Below is an excerpt from the Teamster Bargaining

At the University of Minne-

sota, the Teamster Bargaining Team outright rejected

The University brought to us an insulting proposal

We know they can afford to treat us fairly.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: WHAT IS A GARRITY WARNING?

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: GENERAL COUNSEL

In Garrity v. New Jersey, 385 U.S. 493 (1967),

the United States Supreme Court held that the

Even if the employer does not provide the warning,

RECORDING SECRETARYS REPORT

REMEMBER 1934 PLAQUE UNVEILING

the Remember 1934 Committee, Local

The plaque is at the very corner where on Bloody

Left: Teamsters Local 320 members at unveiling ceremony.

The Teamsters Service Bureau provides FREE

Our professional counselors

We can assist you with balancing and managing many

You might also like