Trust me,I work For the Government
Outsourcing Contracts — Too Many, Too Costly, Too Little Oversight
Or
Saving money by hiring and training State Employees.
I suggest that no one knows how to save money for the State better than the employees that work for the State. We see the waste and many times we have suggestions that can improve efficiency and process. If we want to ask for something to help offset $4.00 a gallon gas we need to start looking for ways to pay for that increase.
I suggest that one way to save money may be to hire MORE state employees.
The state of Maine employs thousands of people to provide services to state government. These employees are all professionals whether they are in the courts, IT, drive a truck, or any other necessary public service. The Governor has ordered state agencies to cut “non-essential” services to reduce state expenditures; we recommend that the Legislature looks for answers to the following questions:
1. How are departments taking action to cut “non-essential” contracts?
2. Is the Legislature in a position to determine where contracts are, what they are for and whether they can be cut?
3. Who is reviewing contracts to ensure that proper guidelines and state laws are being followed in ensuring departments have the legal authority to contract and whether departments are cancelling contracts?
4. Are there more cost-effective ways to provide services now being contracted?
5. Does the Legislature have the information it needs to evaluate the wasteful increase in contracts for state services?
We need to ask the legislature to document the state’s dependence on contracts, review costs, identify state practices and controls that can be reformed, and make specific policy recommendations to reduce reliance on costly contract staff.
“State Agencies don’t do a good job of determining if the costs for contracting out are more than providing the same services with current employees”
Look around and if you see a job that could be done better or cheaper by a State employee, bring that information to the Union or write to me at NarsBars@UnionMaine.Org
If you have seen the ads run by UNIONFACTS.COM you are disgusted, if you have not seen them check them out (on an empty stomach). If you want to know what voting Republican has done for the labor movement and what they want to do read the hatred and the lies at what should be called Lies about Unions.
Duane Lugdon of the United Steel Workers says it best in his letter to WLBZ.
The email for the news director is newsdirector@wlbz2.com
Drop an email and let them know that a news channel is supposed to do public service and not act as a mouthpiece for an anti-labor organazation. Here is Duane's email to WLBZ.
WLBZ Television329 Mount Hope Ave.Bangor, Me. 04401May 23, 2008Dear WLBZ Management, I write today after seeing evidence of the apparent direction WLBZ wants to take here in Maine. On May 22, 2008 WLBZ has run a series of television ads produced by an organization named “UNIONFACTS.COM”. I have been a leader in the Labor Movement in the State of Maine since 1974. I have been working full time for my International Union, the United Steelworkers, since January of 1993. Our Union represents some 5,000 workers in Maine’s Pulp & Paper Industry, the Sawmill industry, the Heavy Equipment industry, as well as workers in some of the municipal governments, oil distribution businesses and public service workers. We represent over 2500 members in the immediate WLBZ “air” footprint and of course the cable connection spreads the WLBZ presence to many others who do not live in the immediate air footprint. I do not consider myself to be a “Union thug”, a mafia kingpin, or a gang member as portrayed by “UNIONFACTS.COM”. This organization is one that is an ultra conservative organization dedicated solely to the abolition of Unions in America. It is a political beast and does the bidding of the National Right to Work Foundation and other extremist organizations that seek to destroy the American Labor Movement. The Maine Labor Movement has worked with the media outlets in Maine whenever important issues have surfaced in our industrial base. I have personally worked with a number of personalities from WLBZ over the years and always found WLBZ to be a responsible player in the local media. I am insulted and incensed that WLBZ has nothing better to do than broadcast the kind of attacks on Maine workers that the UNIONFACTS.COM platform represents. I do not break the law - - I do not belong in jail - - I do not fleece workers - - and I do not appreciate WLBZ’s embrace of these kinds of attack dog advertisers. I frequently watch WLBZ and I have always enjoyed the WLBZ Fred Nutter Editorial spot. I have noted through the years that WLBZ has been a fair and responsible player in its Editorial Opinion. What has happened now? Is WLBZ favoring the attack dog mentality represented by UNIONFACTS.COM? Why is WLBZ on the attack against the organizations that try to advance the lives and working conditions for thousands of Mainers? Does WLBZ recognize what the American Labor Movement has done for our nation’s workforce? I believe it would be advisable for WLBZ to use one of your researchers to “fact-check” the kinds of things that the American Labor Movement has done and the role it has played in the working lives of all Americans. The Holidays we celebrate, the Civil Rights Act, the 40 hour work week, the Social Security Act, and a hundred other ever so important pieces of legislation are all things that have been brought about by the American Labor Movement. American workers, both those who are in Unions and those who are not have been positively affected by the presence of our American Labor Movement. WLBZ should take a more responsible role in making sure that attack dog advertising is not used here in Maine. This is a place where we honor each other’s right to freedom and liberty. The members of Union’s here in the State of Maine know that they work for better wages and better working conditions than they would without the historical presence of Labor Unions. If Labor Unions are run to extinction in Maine and our nation who will speak for the working class? Who will insure that the progressive legislation that has made working in America so rewarding for workers at large is going to remain in place? WLBZ has insulted my character and the character of the Maine Labor Movement by giving UNIONFACTS.COM the time of day. My resentment will continue as long as WLBZ fails to figure out that Maine workers deserve better than the one sided trash represented in this kind of advertising. Most Sincerely, _______________________________ Duane Lugdon, International Representative United Steelworkers International Union P.O. Box 562 Bradley, Me. 04411
Remember newsdirector@wlbz2.com and let WLBZ know they are wrong.Enter your EmailPreview Powered by FeedBlitz
This post is from an employee at Dorothea Dix (formerly BMHI), Nan Worcester.
Hi y’all…Herman the mouse, here to visit again!
Nan has been a State employee for quite a while and she has seen this before.
Ya know, someone’s been baiting a trap for me, and NOT with cheese!
Since I’ve been keeping company with so many nice state employees, while listening to all the anti-union, anti-benefit, anti-pay increase folks, I’m here to tell you, I’m worried!
Ever since one of my friends came to work for this fine state, I keep hearing about how much money the state workers earn, how great their benefits are and why they shouldn’t be getting them. It appears, according to many, that state workers should be downgraded, their benefits that they have worked so hard for, should be taken away so that we can be like the rest of the workers in this state who, for one reason or another, have less. Thank you Wal Mart, for hiring so many people, but not providing them with enough hours, or wages, that they have to depend on Maine Care for their health coverage!
I’d like to suggest a truly radical concept…even though I know it won’t fly. Why doesn’t the private sector IMPROVE their benefits instead of spending time and MONEY trying to show why state workers should do with less (like their employees)? Why don’t some of our legislators suggest this. I realize that this would cut profit margins, which is probably why some of our elected officials wouldn’t want to be caught suggesting something like this. It’s easier to look to employees, whether they be state or private sector, to take the hit.
Please join your fellow-employees at Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center on Wednesday at noon, starting May 28, in the Employee Lounge in brainstorming, or suggesting ways that we can encourage our Union to start bargaining SOON. Tell them waiting until January 2009 when the legislature has spent all its time attempting to balance the budget on the back of the state workers…i.e., cutting health benefits, furlough days (remember them?), shut-down days (remember them too?) and no pay increases is TOO LATE. We need MSEA-SEIU to start bargaining talks NOW! Before the darned cat catches me!
Nan called the MSEA office and asked about early bargaining and so did a lot of other employees concerned about the oncoming train. Good news! The Union has set a schedule! The board has voted to have a committee meeting in June, there should be a survey put out by the Union by now or very shortly, the team election process will be started and hopefully teams will be elected this summer!
We are doing it! The process will be changed and no matter how bad the economy whatever happens would be far worse than what we will be able to do with enough time to prepare.
Our President and our VP both ran on a platform that supported bargaining differently and bargaining earlier. We have already had the only bargaining summit in 30 years and we will be earlier. Looks like they both kept their promises.This is our Union and we will get no more out than we are willing to invest.
No matter who does what, you can do something. Do you want to be heard? Fill out this Bargaining Survey and be heard.Click Here to take survey Click HERE to see how other members are voting..If you have any ideas for putting together a survey for your local or your bargaining unit please contact me at Narsbars@UnionMaine.Org If you get one person to fill out this survey you will be helping yourself. Ask a friend to fill out the survey and ask them to find another friend to do the same. When the MSEA starts collecting proposals all information gathered will be given to the new teams.
It is getting crowded. we are being over-run with C.A.T.s and B.A.T.s. Whether the term is Contract Action Team or Bargaining Action Team, more members and more stewards are becoming involved with the 2009 contract. Members are becoming part of unofficial C.A.T. teams and finding that they can be part of a Contract Action Team just by being willing to listen to their friends and to pass on the information. A lot of us can't get to a rally or feel uncomfortable in the public eye.It doesn't matter! I will paraphrase Andy Stern "this is a new world" and we have to find new ways of dealing with our employers. In the case of many MSEASEIU members we need to go back to the old ways. No matter how hard we work for the public or how good a job we do, our paychecks are held hostage by politics and we need to deal with that fact.What does a politician listen to? They listen to email, they read letters, and if their staff says they got five, ten, a hundred calls about an issue they listen hard.Our C.A.T. members are being urged to do things the new way and talk to their friends, email, write, call, or do all of those things and reach out to touch the legislature.Another thing that makes a Politician quiver is public information. Public information put out by a well funded campaign chest and run with the intent of serving the members.Do not turn away when a steward asks you to sign a $1.00 a week or even more to fund a campaign to help you. The right is well funded as we can all see in the paid and polished attacks on any employee with benefits. We need the same strength to fight back. You can make a decision to give for now and it is not a commitment for life. Unlike taxes this is something you have to volunteer for and something you can stop if you don't like the results.Please consider signing up for a few bucks a pay period, it just may be the thing that keeps those pay periods coming.
You can do something now! Do you want to be heard? Fill out this Bargaining Survey and be heard.Click Here to take survey Click HERE to see how other members are voting..If you have any ideas for putting together a survey for your local or your bargaining unit please contact me at Narsbars@UnionMaine.OrgIf you get one person to fill out this survey you will be helping yourself. Ask a friend to fill out the survey and ask them to find another friend to do the same.
Any proposals gathered will be given to the new teams when they are elected.Enter your EmailPreview Powered by FeedBlitz
Article V, Autonomy
The MSEA shall, at all times, continue and maintain full autonomy over all particulars in the conduct of its business including, but not limited to:
1. Dues and Budget. MSEA shall have authority to establish its own operating and investment budgets and dues structure without regard to the minimum dues provision of Article XIV, Section 6 of the SEIU Constitution, which section SEIU waives.
This might be dry stuff but you can thank all of the members that put this stuff together for the MSEA still having more independence than most locals nationally.We have gained a lot with our association and we have learned a lot but we have never given up who we are. We are still the MSEA.
Fill out the Bargaining Survey. Click Here to take survey Click HERE to see how other members are voting..If you have any ideas for putting together a survey for your local or your bargaining unit please contact me at Narsbars@UnionMaine.OrgIf you get one person to fill out this survey you will be helping yourself. Ask a friend to fill out the survey and ask them to find another friend to do the same.
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Every Wednesday from 12-1
there will be a "Listen-Up!"
meeting in the E-1 Employee Lounge
starting May 28th
There will be a box available to leave questions if you are unable to attend these sessions
The current MSEA contract expires in just over a year, and now is the time to start identifying bargaining issues. Do you have an idea for a bargaining topic? Do you have ideas how the State can save money that won't come out of your paycheck? Visit the E-1 lounge and join the discussions.
Ask a steward when you will have a meeting or call the MSEA at 1-800-452-8794 and find out when you will have a chance to be heard. Your Union is working for you.
No matter who does what, you can do something. Do you want to be heard fill out this Bargaining Survey and give be heard.
Do you want to be heard? Bargaining Survey, What bargaining survey?
Bargaining Survey, What bargaining survey?
and get input from members in a series of "Listen Up"meetings.
Also expected to be discussed is the looming battle to deal with the impending attempts to not only refuse pay increases but the certain fight we will be facing when the legislature attempts to cut existing pay and benefits.
After these talks I will be holding work site meetings to find out what my co workers are most interested in. I intend to start holding meetings and making myself available from now until this process is done. Hopefully, after these talks thousands of members will be given the opportunity to attend "Listen-Up" type meetings between now and the start of bargaining to share their comments and concerns about the upcoming contract negotiations. "The 'Listen-Up' meetings could change the way members look at the bargaining process", said a former a bargaining representative from Pro-Tech. Listening and talking to state workers about their jobs will give them the input into the contract they say they want.
Update 08
Members all over Maine are wondering how we are going to bargain this time around. Maybe you have heard of the idea of Contract Action Teams?A C.A.T. is like a bargaining committee on steroids. It is only made up of members that are interested, driven, and ready to work. It is an all volunteer army.This is what we need to get going to deal with upcoming Contract negotiations by forming Contract Action Teams (C.A.T.s) that will forge member networks to communicate between worksites and the bargaining table.We must demonstrate to the state and the Legislature that members are willing to fight for what they deserve. Contract Action Team members could be called upon to take part in actions that will prove our intent to win - sending delegations to “meet the boss,” wearing stickers, lobbying legislators, sending petitions, and participating in other worksite activities that ensure the state knows we are serious. Members that are interested can step up to help organize co-workers on issues that matter to us all. Participation a C.A.T. will need members to get involved to make a difference at their worksites during the contract campaign.The first step must be bargaining surveys on the web and mailed to members, and then we can turn to analysis of member priorities.
We will need to elect Bargaining Unit Negotiating Teams (BUNTs) and we need research analysts to carefully review survey and meeting results to begin setting Local 1984’s bargaining priorities. We need this now and not after the summer complaints go home.
I know that all of the Pro-Tech team and many of the members of the last negotiations teams have been listening closely to what members want to see in their contract. We have never stopped listening. We need our Union to base our bargaining priorities on member input and we need to start getting that input now.On Saturday May 10, former team members are meeting to discuss what went right and what went wrong during our last contract. I am certain that one thing to come out of the coming meeting will be the decision to hold a round of worksite meetings to gather member input.We will need to have many of these meetings with members to share what we’ve learned, and gain additional feedback to make certain we are prepared at the bargaining table.A lot of ideas are starting to surface already and we need your input to shape the future.Ideas like these:
FEDERAL MILEAGE RATE for State Employees no more theft from our paychecks! Combined LeaveEmployees may opt for annual leave, in lieu of separate vacation and sick leave, and can opt to enroll in or leave the program each June.Employees enrolled in annual leave receive combined vacation/sick leave of:- 14 hours per month for up to 5 years of service;- 16 hours per month at 10 years;- 20 hours per month at 15 years;- 26ours per month at 20 years;- 28 hours per month at 25+ years.One thousand twenty four (1024) hours of combined leave may be accumulated before the State is required to pay. NO USE IT OR LOSE IT.Employees must be paid for unused vacation or annual leave upon leaving state service. All time paid is to count towards length of service and highest paid years.Become involved, get involved and stay involved. Take the bargaining survey and make your opinion heard. So far our health care is at the top of the list of concerns.What else is bothering you? Do you like getting less than the Federal rate for mileage costs when gas is nearly four dollars a gallon?
Click Here to take survey Click HERE to see how other members are voting..
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I have been living through a PC crash. I alway preach backup, backup, backup. Always seemed like a good idea for someone else.......Ouch!
On May 10 all the members of the last contract teams for all branches have been invited to get together on their own time to discuss what went right and wrong during the last contract talks.
If one of your members is going maybe you could give them some encouragement and maybe some thanks for what they are doing.
Many things worked and the best thing that happened to the Executive branch was having our current president, Bruce Hodsdon at the table. He made sure everyone was heard and that if you had something to say you had your chances.
The worst thing to happen was that we started at the end of December, at least six months too late and we are set on a collision course with too late with too little again. In SEIU unions throughout the country the following ideas have been passed. Do any of them seem familiar?Have you heard that our Union is proposing a call center? Are we spending more on training and other ideas? Many of these Ideas are good ones, but since it has been nearly two years since the first discussions about early bargaining took place, I wonder if the Union is listening to the members or if some members of our Union just think they know the best way and don’t want to discuss the ideas with the members.
All over the US the SEIU has been working hard and contrary to the talk show idjits Unions have been making progress in many areas due to new ideas.Programs passed by SEIU Locals include:· Enhanced member representation programs: Additional staff and resources in Union Resource and Member Service Centers to provide rapid and professional assistance to members and to enforce our contract.· Expanded leadership training:Increased budget for job steward training, ensuring appropriate member representation in the workplace.· Increased contract funds:More than money set aside in 2007 and 2008 to organize workers in all Bargaining Units.Has this happened in Maine? If so, why isn’t it on our web pages?· Increased defense funds:How much money has been dedicated to a fund campaign to protect members’ benefits?· Added research capacity:Have we added more resources to add negotiating strength and continue the essential fight against outsourcing and downsizing? Our dues must go to protecting our jobs and our benefits.In order to do research, we need to start now.· Needed: Strategic campaigns:Added investment in building organizing strength in departments all across the state to tackle specific departmental and classification issues impacting our members.MSEASEIU must set timelinefor negotiation team electionsNominations for Local 1984 Negotiations team members should be opened by June 15, starting a process that will culminate in a ballot count on July 30 at the latest. So far the Board of Directors has failed to make any concrete movement towards change the old method of starting late and trying to work with no research. Is the concern that early bargaining would cost money? Is our Union afraid to pay the mileage and the costs of getting a team together early so they can have a better chance to be ready when they sit down to face what is shaping up to be the toughest contract talks in years?
Call the Union: The Board will meet on May 16. Tell your Union you want our board to do something now, make a move before it is too late again.
