AFSCME Local 3937

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Picnic - Saturday, July 19th, 11am–4pm

Columbia Park – 800 Columbia Blvd NE, Minneapolis

U of M AFSCME Locals 3937, 3800, 3260, 3801

Join your fellow Local Union members and their families for a day in the park

Food! Games! Prizes!

AFSCME will supply: Pop Water Ice Hot dogs from Everett’s Meat market (a local family business!) Hamburgers Meatless alternative Condiments Plates, cups, flatware, tablecloths

Please bring something to share: Chips, Dip, Desserts, Beans, Potato salad... Be creative!!

This is a wonderful family-oriented park area. There are two tot lots (playgrounds)! Horseshoe pit! Tennis courts! Large shelter! Why not bring some lawn games? Badminton! Croquet!

Download Picnic Flyer (pdf)

Additional lump sum for Technical employees at top of range

Employees in AFSCME Local 3937 who are at the top of their salary ranges did not get the negotiated additional $300.00 in their July 2nd paychecks. This error occurred in your department - not Central payroll. We understand that this will be paid out on your July 16th paycheck. We are telling folks to get in touch with the departmental payroll staff to ensure this goes through properly for your next check, and that they know you're at the top of your range.

We negotiated this lump sum during a very difficult time, and we're very sorry to find out that this error was made. We're still looking into it, and if anything else develops, we'll post it here and/or send out an e-mail. We can't confine those e-mails to just the affected staff members, so those of you who aren't at the top of your range - bear with us as we try to get the news out to folks who didn't get what was negotiated for them!

You can also get in touch with the local office at: union@afscme3937.org

New Officers and Executive Board sworn in at May 21st, 2008 membership meeting

We welcome Nicole Bretall to the West Bank Representative seat on the Executive Board, and welcome Ryan Mattke to the Secretary position! (Ryan was formerly our west Bank Representative.)

Barbara Bezat, President

Ken Holm, VP/Chief Steward

Jason Iversen, VP/Organizer

Debbie Kerben, Treasurer

Ryan Mattke, Secretary

Krista Gallagher, Medical Area

Brad Kraling, St. Paul

Ron Kubik, Morris Campus

Nicole Bretall, West Bank

Fred Pulling, Off-Campus

Retirement Incentive Option (RIO)

At the membership meeting of AFSCME Local 3937 on Wednesday, May 21st, the members present voted in favor of an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the University in regard to a Retirement Incentive Option (RIO) for 2008. In addition, the Technical employees in AFSCME Local 3801, University of Minnesota, Duluth, voted in favor of this proposal.

With those votes, we have been given permission by the members of the bargaining unit to bring this proposal back to the University and sign the formal agreement to the proposal.

The window for application for this program will open for bargaining unit employees on Monday, June 2nd. Please check with staff in the Benefits department for information that relates to your own specific situation.

The University's Benefits staff will be giving information sessions weekly throughout June and July. Visit their website for details: http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/benefits/events/index.html

PLEASE READ THE FULL TEXT of the program before making any decisions! The following link brings you to the University Human Resources office Benefits page - click on the "Civil Service and Radio and Broadcast Technicians" link. The proposal for AFSCME is the same as that one: http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/benefits/ www.umn.edu/ohr/benefits

(Please note that, in the FAQ on the web, wherever it says "former employee", they are referring only to employees who retired under this RIO, not all "former employees.")

The RIO could be a positive benefit for Bargaining Unit employees in some circumstances, particularly considering the high cost of health care coverage in the United States:

If you are 62 years of age or older; if you are eligible under the rules as stated in the RIO, and if you have considered retiring, this RIO will give you three full years of health care coverage under your current plan. (You will continue to pay the employee portion as you do now; the University will continue to pay its portion.)

If you have considered leaving University employment and you are eligible under the rules as stated in the RIO, having the three years of health care coverage may be a good bridge between jobs. Read the full text (on the web) for information about eligibility; the e-mail from the University summarizes the eligibility requirements

There will be NO payout for length of service: the last RIO allowed for 1 week of pay for each year of service; this benefit is currently only available if you've received a layoff notice, and is in the MOU on Alternatives to Layoff;

Once you have agreed to this RIO, you have only 15 days to rescind your decision; after that 15 days, you are locked into the retirement option regardless of any circumstances that may arise before your retirement date that may change your wish to participate;

Once you have retired under this program, you may not EVER return to University employment in a benefit-eligible position. You may return to work at the University after 3 months have elapsed between your retirement date and your new job, but you will only be able to work on a 49% (19.5 hours) appointment or lesser appointment.

Do you know of members who are going through hard times?

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