Senator Ron Jelinek offered Concurrent Resolution No. 35 on Wednesday March 3, 2010 on the Senate Floor.  This resolution would reject the 3% compensation increase for state employees who belong to a union like the UAW Local 6000.  Because this move would override a negotiated contract between union employees and the state a super-majority or two-third vote would be required.  The resolution failed when only 22 Senators voted to override the collective bargaining process.  Republican Senator Bruce Patterson did not cast a vote explaining the resolution to override the contract may be illegal.  The only Senate Democrat to vote for the resolution was Michael Switalski. 

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop has promised to continue to try to repeal the 3% raise through April 11, 2010, which is the last date a vote could be called on this resolution.And that means the battle is not over. State workers must continue to contract their state senators and state representatives and tell them to honor our contract.

This resolution is about more than just money - it was about unions and the dignity of public employees everywhere.  The attacks on our benefits and pay have been relentless; Michigan State Employees have negotiated 700 million dollars in concessions since 2004. 

Again thank you to Senator Gretchen Whitmer (watch the video) and Senate Minority Leader Mike Prusi (watch the video ) who spoke in support of state workers.  Also, Senator Deborah Cherry argued against the resolution to repeal the raise citing the recent informational picket by Genesee County DHS workers that she also participated in.

 (See pictures - click on photos above)

Schools closed across Michigan as people woke up on the morning of February 22nd to a snow storm.  This did not stop the Genesee County DHS workers from holding an Informational Picket nor did it stop three TV stations from sending crews to cover the rally.  State Senators Deborah Cherry and John Gleason also braved the snow to picket.  Just like DHS workers in Sterling Heights who protested on December 18th 2009, the Genesee County workers marched out of frustrations with high caseloads and serious safety issues.

Genesee County DHS workers like other state employees around the state, struggle every day with the Bridges computer program crippling their ability to get the desperately needed services out to citizens.  Case workers in Genesee County have also been assaulted.  In fact on January 28th 2010 a Children’s Protective Services Worker was robbed at knife point.  The rally was held to force Lansing lawmakers to wake up and send more staff to DHS before someone gets killed.  Caseloads have gone through the roof, which has in turn left people without food, shelter and other basics as the safety net in Michigan is becoming more difficult to maintain.  DHS does not have enough staff to meet the demand the public has placed on the department.

Governor Jennifer Granholm and DHS Director Ismael Ahmed have called on the legislature to add 850 new employees.  This must be done right away or people will continue to suffer and workers will continue to be robbed and assaulted.   DHS workers will not stop speaking out until more staff members are hired.

State Employees were shocked when they received an email from Bob Emerson, State Budget Directory, outlining propose changes in the retirement plans for state workers.

Unfortunately,   the plan “encourages” state employees with 30 years or more of service to retire by forcing them to contribute 3 percent of their salary toward retirement effective Oct. 1, capping retirement credit at 30 years of service, and eliminating their retirement vision and dental care if they refuse to step down. Those who remain in the defined benefit plan would face the same changes. 

Michigan is a sportsman’s dream with its woodlands, lakes, and rivers and naturalists flock to the state enjoying a wonderful mix of geological and biological features.  Local emergency agencies are called every year to look for lost hunters and hikers, often exhausting their resources.  The Michigan State Police (MSP) Dispatch Centers are called when this happens. 

On January 5th, 2010, the Local received notice from the Department of Corrections of their intent to implement a reduction in force at the Muskegon Correctional Facility to begin not earlier than February 6th, 2010.

Initial discussions revealed that although the facility will be used to house inmates from Pennsylvania, the Department will not be contracted to provide programs which are administered and available to Michigan sentenced inmates.  As these programs will not be offered or included in the contract with Pennsylvania, there is no need to maintain the current staffing levels for any aspect of the facility operations.