ORGANIZING FOR POWER

TEAMSTERS LOCAL 320 LOBBY DAY 2014

LOCAL 320
Spring 2014 Edition Volume XVII - Issue #2

INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS PUBLIC AND LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES UNION

IN THIS ISSUE... 2. Secretary-Treasurers Report, Brian Aldes 3. Presidents Report, Joanne Derby 3. Vice Presidents Report, Sami Gabriel 4. Recording Secretarys Report, Curt Swenson 4. Organizing Minnesota For Power, Josh Intemann 5. Photoset: Teamsters Lobby Day 2014 6 & 7. Teamsters Scholarship Awards 2014

PAGE 7: St. Louis County Members Recognized in Duluth Magazine: The Woman Today

OFFICERS AND STAFF

Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Officer Joanne Derby President/Business Agent Sami Gabriel Vice President/Business Agent Curt Swenson 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

Brian Aldes

LOCAL 320 SECRETARY-TREASURERS REPORT

FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

By Brian Aldes

Teamsters Local

320 has proven once again that we are a force to be reckoned with at the State Capitol. Our 2014 Lobby Day on March 19th, yielded three times as many participants than last year. The majority of Teamsters who participated were from state universities and had major issues regarding fair compensation through the budgetary process in addition to support for Governor Mark Daytons bonding list. Teamster member Adam Klepetar testified at the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee in support of the MnSCU supplemental budget to provide a fair settlement for ASF members in contract negotiations. Teamsters in public defense met with Representative Debra Hilstrom (chairwomen of the House Judiciary Committee) to discuss building equity for judicial branch employees. Rep. Hilstrom is the Teamsters Joint Council 32 DRIVE endorsed candidate for Secretary of State. Other Teamsters from all over the state from county social services to corrections had an opportunity to discuss their issues with State Legislators and important committee chairs. Rep. Hilstrom and Lieutenant Governor candidate Tina Smith (Governor Daytons running mate) both addressed Teamsters at the State Capitol. Rep. Hilstrom thanked Teamsters for support and told the crowd that her grandfather was a Teamster and a 1934 striker. Rep. Hilstroms grandfather was involved in both the historic 1934 Minneapolis Teamsters Strike and the 1939 WPA Strike led by Teamsters Local 574 Federal Workers Section (FWS).
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Local 320 Business Agents

Amy Hill Craig Johnson Michael Kopp Roger Meunier Terry Neuberger Vance Rolfzen Kari Seime Erik Skoog

Communications | Lobbyist
Gus Froemke

Tina Smith made it clear in no uncertain terms that Governor Daytons administration has been a true friend to the Teamsters Union. All Teamsters know how important a strong governor can be to help maintain adequate public sector budgets. On the organizing front, our Local Union has made a commitment to a pro-growth agenda. We have decided that we must grow our Union in order to preserve our high quality contracts and fend off political attacks. In March, Local 320 hired a full-time lead organizer to recruit and train Volunteer Member-Organizers (VMOs) and identify areas for growth. Please welcome Josh Intemann to our Local 320 team! In closing, I want to congratulate all of the Lowell D. Lynch Scholarship recipients. Our Local Union takes pride in the benefits we provide to the membership, whether it is scholarships for members graduating high school students, the Teamsters Food Shelf, Credit Union, Service Bureau or Privilege Program. To view all Teamster services and programs please visit the Local 320 web site and click the member resources tab. www.teamsterslocal320.org

Lead Organizer
Josh Intemann

Susan Bastian Ron Phillips Suzanne Slawson Joni Spaulding Kristi Ziegler Katie Ziembo

Support Staff

Minneapolis, MN Local Union Office

8:00am - 4:00pm P: 612-378-8700 F: 612- 331-8948 Toll Free 1-800-637-5430 Online www.teamsterslocal320.org Email local320@teamsterslocal320.org

Published by Teamsters Local 320 3001 University Ave SE #500 Minneapolis, MN 55414

LOCAL 320 PRESIDENTS REPORT

SAVE THE DATES!

By Joanne Derby

Teamsters Local

320 is taking its general membership meetings out on the road again this summer. Look for the Local 320 truck and trailer at the following dates and locations:

August 12th, 2014, Duluth, MN: Pike Lake, 4895 E. Pike Lake Rd. 5:30 p.m.
Teamsters Local 320 also encourages the membership to participate in the Remember Teamsters 1934 Strike events on July 19th & 20th, 2014. According to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters the Minneapolis strike of 1934 is widely seen as a pivotal moment for the Teamsters and for the labor movement. The outcome of the strike led to the enactment of legislation granting the rights of workers to organize and bargain, including the National Labor Relations Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. The events begin July 19th from 1:00 p.m. at Boom Island in Minneapolis and continue into Sunday.

June 10th, 2014, Brainerd, MN: Lum Park, 1619 N.E. Washington St. 5:30 p.m. July 8th, 2014, Faribault, MN: Alexander Park Shelter #1. 5:30 p.m.

LOCAL 320 VICE PRESIDENTS/ DRIVE REPORT

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
By Sami Gabriel

The Minnesota

ary increases if the state hits a future economic downturn. It is estimated

State Legislature has once again proven how productive DFL control can be for all the states workers. With Teamsters Joint Council 32 DRIVE support, the Legislature enacted a major increase in the state minimum wage. Legislators have pushed the hourly wage to $9.50 by 2016. The new rate will be tied to inflation beginning in 2018, but the commissioner of the state Department of Labor and Industry can prevent automatic inflation-

that 350,000 low-wage Minnesota workers will get a raise from the increase.

The Legislature also strengthened workers rights for public employees by creating a Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) under the Bureau of Mediation Services. The Board handles Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges (listed under PELRA) administratively, replacing the current practice of handling ULP charges through the district courts.
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Before PERB, the process of bringing charges through district court was very expensive, cumbersome and time consuming. The typical cost for a labor union to bring a charge was $50,000 to $75,000, and could take years for a decision. PERB now makes it less costly and much quicker to get a decision regarding a ULP charge. For a more comprehensive report on the 2014 State Legislative Session please visit our web site at: www.teamsterslocal320.org/mnleg

RECORDING SECRETARYS REPORT

SUPPORTING PUBLIC SAFETY WORKERS

By Curt Swenson
100 Club was formed in 1972 by local Minneapolis business and labor leaders to provide instant relief and aid to surviving families of public servants who were killed in the line of duty. On Wednesday, April 30th, 2014, the 100 Club held its annual Fire and Law Enforcement Dinner and Silent Auction. Teamsters Local 320 donated a set of Minnesota Twins Baseball tickets to the silent auction.

The Minnesota

The Local Union sent Business Agents Mike Kopp, Terry Neuberger and Vance Rolfzen to the dinner. Two Local 320 members, Deputy Sergeant Joanne Springer from Ramsey County Sheriffs Department and Officer Dave Hutchinson from Metro Transit Police Department were in attendance as well. The Minnesota 100 Club celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year. In honor of this momentous occasion the Club set a goal to introduce 40 new members to Protect The Protectors. Teamsters Local 320 encourages you to lend a hand by passing on an application to your friends, co-workers and neigh-

bors so we all can continue to serve those who risk their lives on a daily basis. To print an application for the 100 Club and for more information on how you can get involved please visit the web site: www.minnesota100club.com

ORGANIZING MINNESOTA FOR POWER

By Josh Intemann
My name is Josh Intemann and I am the Teamsters Local 320 Lead Organizer. I have been organizing with public employees for the last five years and have traveled across the country and worked with employees form all aspects of the public sector. My time in organizing has taught me one lesson: workers get what they want when they are organized and use their power. Organizing is the corner stone of the labor movement. It is the building block for everything that union members have gained and everything that we continue to fight for. We cannot resolve our grievances, negotiate contracts, and get the compensation that we deserve unless we are organized. When we are organized, we are powerful. Local 320 is embarking on an organizing initiative to grow the local and make our members stronger. We are building a grassroots movement of Teamsters Local 320 Power! The Local has developed a strategic organizing plan that focuses on growing the union and building solidarity across our units. I am excited to work on this initiative and to make Local 320 stronger. We need your help! Organizing is a force that is built from the bottom up. It is engaging with our brothers and sisters and building relationships.
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Organizing is about being involved and uniting working people. This cannot be done without you! We need your help to build an organizing committee in the Local. The organizing committee will be comprised of Member Organizers that will be trained in organizing and work on the strategic plan. The Organizing Committee will steer the organizing of Local 320 and be active participants in the organizing campaigns and train new organizers. This is a great opportunity to get involved in the Local and be a part of something that we have never done before. To join the organizing committee call me at: (612) 378-8717.

LOBBY DAY 2014 PHOTOSET

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LOWELL D. LYNCH 2014 SCHOLARSHIPS

STUDENT
Daniel Aarness Michael Anderson Cord Anding Megan Ashpole Michael Ausen Levi Bean Grace Berke Madison Bodell Matthew Butkowski Noah Butkowski Casey Butorac Brady Combs Mikayla Conrath Alyssa Gray Haley Gregg Kristin Haag Jenna Hagglund Nicole Hendrickx Annalyssa Hinds BriAnna Hoffman Garret Hogue Taylor Holicky Tanner Huebner Marissa Jones Sean Kiersen Tyler Kruse Jaxon Lind Emma Marshall Abby McHenry Katelyn Mether Madison Nelson Patrick Nelson Carley Notch Joshua Oak Derek Ortloff Austin Otto Charlotte Pfingsten Cassandra Phillips Allie Pineur

MEMBER

Janet Aarness Joan Stanoch Anderson Tamela Anding Reed Ashpole Shelley Ausen Jodi Bean Jessica Berke Rodney Bodell Jennifer Butkowski Jennifer Butkowski Karen Butorac Jon Combs Jeremy Conrath Cindy Gray Pamela Gregg Patti Haag Kathryn Hagglund Kathy Hendrickx Caroline Reshetar Todd Hoffman Colin Hogue Kristen Holicky Rene Huebner Robert Jones Maureen Wilkus-Kiersen Sandra Kruse Michelle Lind Amy Marshall Sally McHenry Colleen Mether Michael Nelson Thomas Nelson Jackie Notch Danette Tenney Denise Ortloff Kevin Otto Todd Pfingsten Nancy Phillips Christine Pineur
Page Page66

BARGAINING UNIT
MSUAASF State of MN - Court Reporter Dover-Eyota ISD Carver County Inver Grove Hts ISD Wright County State of MN - Court Reporter U of M Stearns County Stearns County Rosemount ISD Grant County Waseca County Rice County State of MN - PDSS Sherburne County Sherburne County Otter Tail County Sherburne County Wright County City of Anoka LeSueur ISD Sherburne County Ramsey County Sherburne County Stearns County State of MN - Court Reporter St Paul ISD Inver Grove Hts ISD Chisago County City of Minnetonka MSUAASF Douglas County State of MN - Court Reporter State of MN - 1st & 7th CAT Ramsey County MSUAASF Washington County Rice County

2014 SCHOLARSHIPS Contd.

STUDENT
Ashley Ruhland Michael Shuda Taylor Simon Rachel Sowada Chelsea Steffens Jacob Steinbauer Kayla Vanderveur Emma Whiteman Alex Willson Sabrina Xiong Mitchell Zerr Emily Zok

MEMBER

Gail Ruhland Alan Shuda Sherri Simon Cheryl Sowada Pamela Steffens Mark Steinbauer Brenda Vanderveur Carla Whiteman Marlene Willson Kao Xiong Gina Zerr Sandra Zok

BARGAINING UNIT

MSUAASF City of Faribault LeSueur County State of MN - Public Defender Sherburne County City of Chaska State of MN - Court Reporter Crow Wing County St Peter ISD Ramsey County Becker County Becker County

TEAMSTERS RECOGNIZED IN DULUTH MAGAZINE

ries as examples of job equality for women in northern Minnesotas bluecollar industry. The article is titled: Plowing the Way Ahead for Women: Ione Tremain and Cheri Eidum. Ione and Cheri are the only two female operators at their tool house and have had a tough time being recognized as ladies by their supervisor. Our supervisor would always say, Good job, guys. Now, he says, Good job, guys - and ladies. Its nice to be recognized on the same level, says Cheri. Olin makes no bones that she is herself inspired by Ione and Cheri as she views them as leading by example. Olin describes how both Ione and Cheri take great satisfaction in having jobs that are atypical for women. All Teamsters of Local 320 should be proud of Ione and Cheri for trailblazing job opportunities for women in blue-collar industry. To read the article in its entirety please visit the web site at: www.thewomantoday.com

In the February - March 2014 edi-

tion of the Duluth magazine, The Woman Today, Teamsters Local 320 members Ione Tremain and Cheri Eidum are featured in their capacities as heavy equipment operators in St. Louis County. Columnist Ericka Olin illustrates the backgrounds, work environment and duties of Ione and Cheri as employees of the County, but she also skillfully articulates their inspirational sto-

Olin certainly does not downplay blue-collar work, in fact, she draws attention to how proud Ione and Cheri are of all they have accomplished at their jobs. Ione and Cheri tell Olin that they are working at their dream jobs and have proved themselves in a male-dominated environment. Olin does identify instances where Ione and Cheri have had to overcome past difficulties with being singled out.
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