INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS PUBLIC AND LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES UNION

LOCAL 320
November 2017 Edition Volume XX - Issue #4

SUCCESS IN ST. PAUL!

ST. PAUL SCHOOL

IN THIS ISSUE...
2. Secretary-Treasurers Report, Brian Aldes FOOD SERVICE
3. Presidents Report, Sami Gabriel WORKERS FIGHT
3. Vice Presidents Report, Curt Swenson
4. Upcoming Local 320 Townhall Meetings AND WIN!
5. Recording Secretarys Report, Craig Johnson PAGE 6
7. Legal Update, Paula Johnston
 OFFICERS AND STAFF
LOCAL 320 SECRETARY-TREASURERS REPORT
Brian Aldes
Secretary-Treasurer and

OVERCOMING HARSH POLITICS

Principal Officer
Sami Gabriel
President/Business Agent
Curt Swenson
Vice President/Business Agent
Craig Johnson
Recording Secretary/ By Brian Aldes
Business Agent The dispute in Hubbard County was over
Marcia (Marty) Lamb
Trustee, St. Paul ISD 625
In early October, the unilateral changes to a tentative agreement
State Joint Subcom- by the employer that resulted in miscom-
Richard Wheeler
Trustee, MSUAASF mittee on Employee munication and ultimately confusion and
Alston Dutchin Relations (JSER) frustration by the employees.
Trustee, U of M voted down both the
Paula Johnston AFSCME and MAPE Last month we got the language issue
General Counsel
labor contracts corrected and Social Services employees
Local 320 Business Agents with the executive branch. It was a highly received a decent cost-of-living-adjustment
Hanna Benardson partisan committee meeting with all GOP and an increased health insurance benefit.
Mike Horton representatives voting against the contracts
Josh Loahr while in contrast all the DFL representa- In early October we authorized a strike
Roger Meunier
Terry Neuberger tives voted to pass the contracts. against the St. Paul School District by 92
Vance Rolfzen percent of the bargaining unit and mobi-
Erik Skoog What were seeing from the State Legisla- lized nearly 300 food service workers to
ture is a complete and utter assault on free take action.
Communications | Lobbyist collective bargaining. I advise all Minnesota
Gus Froemke
public employees to take notice because Within less than a month from the strike
Organizer what happens at the state level always authorization, the workers voted to accept
Claire Thiele seems to trickle down to the local level in a tentative agreement where all employees
one way or another. are to receive a 2 percent increase each
Support Staff year of the contract plus one step increase
Susan Bastian
Katie Glaser
This harsh political climate is no accident each year for employees not at the top of
Ron Phillips it is the direct result of last Novembers the pay scale during the two-year agree-
Suzanne Slawson state elections. A majority of anti-worker ment. Approximately 110 employees mak-
Joni Spaulding
Kristi Ziegler
politicians now control the State Legisla- ing under $15.00 will be elevated to $15.00
ture. They are coming after our collective per hour in 2019.
Minneapolis, MN bargaining rights and our retirement if we
Local Union Office dont stop them in the next election. Late last month, State of Minnesota public
8:00am - 4:00pm defense employees voted to accept their
P: 612-378-8700 Please know that our Local Union is adapt- new contracts for attorneys and support
F: 612- 331-8948 ing to the harsh politics like never before, staff. Both contracts includes pay increases
1-800-637-5430
and we are moving fast and furious against and insurance premium improvements.
Online those who would do us harm. This was only made possible after an
www.teamsterslocal320.org intense contract campaign by involved
Teamsters employed by Hubbard County members.
Email Social Services recently voted near unani-
local320@teamsterslocal320.org
mously to accept a new labor contract. The At the University of Minnesota, Teamsters
vote happened only after the Social Ser- authorized a strike by an 85 percent mar-
vices employees authorized a strike action gin. There are 1,500 Teamsters who have
in August. been working with an expired contract for
four months. The failure of the University
Authorizing a strike is always a tough move at the negotiating table cannot continue
to make, but we had to send a clear and and the workers and their families deserve
consistent message that Teamsters will not better. We must continue to hold employers
Published by be disrespected! accountable to overcome harsh politics.
Teamsters Local 320
3001 University Ave SE #500
Minneapolis, MN 55414

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LOCAL 320 PRESIDENTS REPORT

LOCAL 320 PROVIDES ESL COURSES

By Sami Gabriel

Local 320 has teamed up with

the Hubbs Center for Lifelong
Learning in St. Paul to provide
Teamsters who speak English as
a second language with lan-
guage, writing, and quality of life
skills.

We launched the courses on October 4, 2017, at the

Minnesota Teamsters Building in Minneapolis with a Local 320 President Sami Gabriel welcoming the Teamster
group of Teamsters from the University of Minnesota. attendees for the ESL program on October 4, 2017.
We hope to reach more Teamsters from the University
in addition to other large units in the metro area.

LOCAL 320 VICE PRESIDENTS REPORT

HOLDING THE U OF M ACCOUNTABLE

By Curt Swenson

The University of Minnesota

has dragged its feet in ne-
gotiations for 7 months and
Teamsters decided to put ac-
countability into the process
by voting to authorize a strike.

The University has thus far failed to craft a proposal

to address the economic inequities that remain for
the workers, especially the 155 workers who make
less than $15.00 per hour. They have failed to
address the issues important to the growing num-
ber of East African employees who are mistreated
for using their accrued vacation. On November 2,
2017, we voted to authorize a strike by 85 percent.
After the strike vote ballots were counted, Team-
sters Local 320 held a press conference. Team-
sters received support of University students from
both Grad Students United and the Minnesota
Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG).
Local 320 held a press conference after the ballots from the strike auth-
rization vote were counted in Minneapolis.
Matthew Sheets from MPIRG called Teamster work-
ers the backbone of the campus community and
objected to the Universitys actions at the negotiating
table. Graduate Student Imogen Page called on all
University students to stand in solidarity with Team-
sters.
Teamsters Local 320 held an inforamtional picket on
November 17, 2017, with over 300 attendees.

Page 3
 Local 320 Community Townhall Meeting!
Tuesday, January 22, 2018
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

MNSU Mankato
Wissink Hall Room 289
321 Maywood Avenue, Mankato, MN 56001
Free Parking at Lot 16 - Gold
Teamsters Local 320 will host a town hall meeting for its members to address issues important
to them in their community and to share their perspectives. Local 320 leadership will promote
a conversation between Teamster members and local community leaders to discuss issues
that matter to working Minnesotans.

All members of Teamsters Local 320 are welcome to join the discussion!

To join remotely please review the following information:

1. Dial In to the Conference (United States): (855) 212-0212
Access Code: 957-297-693
2. Join Online Meeting:
Online Meeting Link: https://join.startmeeting.com/ibt320
Online Meeting ID: ibt320

Page 4
LOCAL 320 RECORDING SECRETARYS REPORT

IMPORTANT STEWARD LESSONS

By Craig Johnson

This years steward seminar

provided us many valuable
lessons. International Brother-
hood of Teamsters Trustee Jim
Kabell addressed our stewards
and discussed the national
threat against unions and how
things in his home state of Mis-
souri went from bad to worse after the last election.

Brother Kabell described the full scale attack on work-

ing men and women that took place in Missouri after Local 320 Secretary Treasuerer Brian Aldes with International Brother-
hood of Teamsters Trustee, President of the Missouri-Kansas-Nebraska
they elected a conservative governor. Conference of Teamsters, President of Joint Council 56, and Secretary-
Treasurer of Local 245 in Missouri Jim Kabell.
Missouri Governor Eric Greitens pushed a so-called
right to work bill in the Missouri State Legislature soon
after he took office. Once it passed the legislature,
Governor Greitens signed it into law in early February
2017. It did not take long for union leaders and activ-
ists to challenge the move by collecting signatures to
repeal the law by ballot referendum.

Brother Kabell and Teamsters fought back and sub-

mitted over 300,000 signatures of people who want
to put a question on the November 2018 ballot asking
voters if they want the new law.

In what can only be described as a rebuke to Gov. Jim Kabell addresses Local 320 stewards and discusses the right to
Eric Greitens and the conservative Legislature, this work battle in Missouri.
move leaves the anti-worker initiative in limbo until
the November 2018 election when the citizens of Mis-
souri will make the final decision on right to work.

Another guest speaker who addressed the seminar

was International Brotherhood of Teamsters Vice
President - At Large Greg Floyd. Brother Floyd has
the largest Teamster Local Union in North America
and it consists of public safety workers in New York
City including licensed peace officers in various ca-
pacities.

Brother Floyd stressed the importance of solidarity for

all public sector workers and how we must connect
the dots before the next election or we could find our-
selves in dire straits.
Local 320 Trustee Alston Dutchin and Vice President Curt Swenson
with International Brotherhood of Teamsters Vice President - At Large
and President of Local 237 in New York City Greg Floyd.

Page 5
 SUCCESS IN ST. PAUL
REPUBLISHED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS

At Minnesotas St. Paul Public Schools, 300 workers work hard each day feeding 39,000 kids. Its not an easy
job, but these nutrition service workers love what they do. Many have memorized thousands of kids names
and which kids have which food allergy. Its a population where 72 percent of the kids are eligible for free or
reduced-rate lunches and some receive three free meals a day to ensure they get enough to eat.

Meanwhile, many nutrition service workers

themselves are having a hard time feeding their
own children because theyve been getting paid
less than what experts say is a living wage.

Teamsters Local 320 in Minneapolis repre-

sents over 1,000 workers in the St. Paul Public
Schools (SPPS). Last year, Local 320 won a
contract to raise teaching assistants wages up
to at least $15 per hour by 2018. But when Local
320 began negotiations for the nutrition service
workers it represents, the St. Paul school board
attempted to pit workers against each other by
stating they would either give everyone small
raises or bring the 110 lowest-wage workers up Local 320 members at St. Paul Public Schools who make less than $15.00 per
to $15 per hour, but not both. The school board hour and will be receiving a large pay increase in 2019
also wanted to take away Medicare supplements
from a group of workers when they retire.

The nutrition service workers work tirelessly to provide nutritious meals to the children of St. Paul, in some
cases the only meals the kids get all day, yet they are among the lowest paid workers in the school district. We
knew we had to fight for a fair agreement that would raise the standard for everyone, said Brian Aldes, Secre-
tary Treasurer of Local 320.

The St. Paul community rallied to support the workers who feed their children. Workers and community mem-
bers came out to school board meetings, and the St. Paul teachers and teaching assistants showed strong
support as well.

We fought long and hard to get a fair contract, said Erin George, a 13-year nutrition service worker. Weve
always been on the bottomthe District felt it could step on us, but we finally stood our ground. We deserve
respect and to be treated fairly. It was amazing to see the support we got from the teachers, teaching assistants
and so many community members. We now know that when we stick together and keep fighting, we can win.
After months of pressure, it came down to a very late-night mediation session and the workers prevailed.

St. Paul nutrition service workers will receive annual raises and step increases every year of the contract, and
by 2019 everyone is guaranteed to be paid at least $15 per hour. They also won their fight to keep retired work-
ers medical coverage. The nutrition service workers ratified their contract in a 92 percent vote on October 26.
This is a historic achievement for workers not just in St. Paul, but throughout the United States. The fight for
living wages is galvanizing workers and communities like never before, and the Teamsters Union is proud to be
leading the way! Aldes said. Were going to build on this victory and continue to organize. We lined our con-
tract up with the teaching assistants, and in two years it wont just be 300 Teamsters negotiating their contract;
itll be 1,000 Teamsters!

Page 6
 LEGAL UPDATE
BY PAULA JOHNSTON, LOCAL 320 GENERAL COUNSEL

The First Amendment states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or pro-
hibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. The right to free speech is
not absolute, however.

By virtue of their employment by the government, public employees have certain limitations on speech. In order
for their speech to be protected by the First Amendment, two criteria must be met.

1. Is the person speaking as a citizen or as an employee?

A person must be speaking as a citizen in order for First Amendment protections to apply. Speech made pursu-
ant to the persons duties as a public employee is not protected. For example, if a prosecutor writes a memo-
randum recommending the dismissal of a case due to the mishandling of evidence, the memorandum is speech
made in the course of her regular duties as a prosecutor i.e., evaluating the merits of a case for trial. Such
speech is not protected by the First Amendment.

2. Does the speech address a matter of public concern?

Matters of public concern, rather than those of only personal interest, may be protected so long as the person
is speaking as a citizen and not an employee. Matters of public concern is broadly defined, but the easiest
example is speech regarding the President of the United States (unless the speech is threatening).

Even if both criteria are met, a public employer may still limit speech, but only to the extent necessary to ensure
that its operation runs smoothly and efficiently. The court will apply a balancing test in determining whether the
interests of the employee, speaking as a citizen on a matter of public concern, outweighs that of the employers
interest in promoting the efficiency of the public services that it provides.

Our professional counselors

The Teamsters Service Bureau provides FREE can help you with:
CONFIDENTIAL services for you and your family.
The Teamsters Service Bureau provides FREE Our professional counselors
canEmotional Concerns
help you with:
CONFIDENTIAL
We can assist youservices for youand
with balancing andmanaging
your family.
many Financial Problems
of lifes challenges. Family/Marriage Issues
We
can assist you with balancing and managing many Emotional Concerns
Chemical Dependency
Financial Problems
ofRemember...
lifes challenges.
Problems and stress can and do happen! Stress/Anxiety
Family/Marriageand
Issues

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

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