Your Voice, Your Choice
OPEIU Local 39
February 2016
A Busy Week Ahead!
Happy Spring! Spring officially started last Sunday and along with crocuses and snowdrops, April is going to bring with it your next chance to vote! April 5th is the election for State Supreme Court as well as the Presidential primary.

We have information on that as well as updates on the CMFG negotiations that are ongoing.
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April 5 - Election 2016
Your next chance to cast your vote is coming up fast! April 5th will see votes cast for both the State Supreme court as well as the presidential primary.

The Supreme Court race is incredibly important. The news has been full in the last week about anti-LGBT opinions that Justice Bradley held in her youth. For her part, Kloppenburg was taken to task for attending the retirement party of John Matthews, executive director of the Madison Teachers Union.

One of the factors we need to consider in our votes is who will be the best friend for Labor in Wisconsin. Make your decision and cast your vote April 5!
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You can find out more about both candidates, including listening to their debate and other articles at Wisconsinvote.org. Information on where to vote and sample ballots are at the GAB. And remember, the rules have changed regarding voting. You must have a valid ID to vote in elections now. If you have any questions on Voter ID requirements, go to MyVote Wisconsin.
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SCFL / AFL-CIO Scholarships!
The South Central Federation of Labor is again offering four $1000 scholarships for students who have not yet "earned a post-secondary degree." The application is short and the scholarships are awarded by lottery, so if you have a student in college, this is a great opportunity. Find rules and application below.
Contract Negotiations Continue at CMFG
Bargaining Team Members at the Forum

Negotiations continue at our largest Bargaining Unit. The contract at CUNA Mutual Financial Group expires the end of March and both sides have been busy exchanging contract proposals.

Membership has been showing its solidarity by wearing blue on Wednesdays and at the All Staff forum bock on March 9th many of us attended wearing our OPEIU stickers. Personally, I know that management saw it as I ran into CEO Trunso while walking to the Forum and I had my sticker on!

There has been some progress to date with a number of Tentative Agreements reached including on the amount of Across the Board raises, but the biggest issues are still outstanding. The Company continues to focus on radical changes to the Health Insurance options, insisting on removing access to all HMOs and offering only "consumer driven" plans managed by Cigna and dropping Health Retirement Accounts. On our behalf, the Union is standing strong in opposition to those changes. Membership has spoken out loudly against losing the HMOs, both on our Facebook page as well as in direct communication to members of the Bargaining Team.

On our behalf, the Union has been pushing for changes to how the Company is handling outsourcing, raising awareness around Performance Reviews, and otherwise maintaining the decent compensation that Members are getting from a Company that continues to do remarkably well, thanks to our hard work.

Since there have been agreements reached and progress is being made, the contract talks will continue even if the term of the contract ends while negotiations are on-going. The current contract will remain in place and in force until such a time as the new contract terms are voted and approved by Membership.

Negotiations are ongoing and our solidarity is more important than ever. Wear blue on Wednesdays, support our Bargaining Team members, and stand strong during this process and we will get a good, fair, and equitable contract.
Upcoming Membership Meetings
Membership meetings are held the third Wednesday of the second month of the quarter, at 5:30 PM in the Union Office.

May 18th, 2016
August 17th, 2016
November 16, 2016
February 15, 2017

This is your Union. Your participation gives us the strength to face the continued opposition of both companies and politicians.
Unions = Gym Membership
Know Your Weingarten Rights!
The US Supreme Court has ruled that the National Labor Relations Act gives workers the right to request union representation during investigatory interviews by supervisors, security personal, and other managerial staff.  These are called Weingarten Rights.
 
An investigatory interview occurs if 1) management questions you to obtain information; and 2) you have reasonable apprehension that your answers could be used as a basis for discipline or other adverse action.
 
You must ask for union representation either before or during an investigatory interview.  Management does not have to remind you of this right.  If your request is refused and Management continues asking questions, you may refuse to answer.  Your employer is guilty of an unfair labor practice and charges may be filed.  If you are questioned in a situation where Weingarten may apply, read or present this statement:

"If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, or affect my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that my union representative, officer, or steward be present at this meeting. Until my representative arrives, I choose not to participate in this discussion."
Local 39 Union Offices
701 Watson Ave
Ste 102
Madison WI 53713