Chapter 7 Meeting Notes
June 15, 2010
Cheryl Little opened the meeting by saying that Lobby Day was today. She said that the Republicans were more supportive than usual.
Health and Safety Report - Cheryl Little reported that the Lackawanna County DPW office had debris on the floor, it was filthy, and reportedly not cleaned since March. This is a DGS building, owned by the Commonwealth of PA. There has been violence against caseworkers there, where a client came over a desk after a caseworker. This is a Safety violation. When Cheryl Little looked into it, Management at DPW looked into HER leave. So Cheryl was investigated for looking into a safety violation. DPW Management also said that Cheryl violated policy by taking pictures of the filth. Cheryl threatened to see Governor Rendell about the trash lying around. What resulted was they brought Cheryl in, to counsel HER. Cheryl said that all safety incidents should be recorded, and documented. Roni Hamiel is handling this problem. Cheryl said that to report any Safety problems in the L & I Departments, the person should contact either Judy Miller or Frank Shively. Motion to accept report as read – Pat Barnes, seconded by Greg Kovalick. Motion Passed to accept report as read.
Pat Barnes then read the Treasurers report. She said that $ 711 was spent in May, and there is $ 8679 in the Budget for Chapter 7. Motion to accept report as read – Dave Burns, seconded by Pat Barnes. Motion passed to accept report as read.
MR Report – Pat Barnes read the MR Report. She said that here is a lot of changing of the guard in Selinsgrove Center. Possibly 5 people on the MR Committee are retiring, and they need new blood. No one wants to help. Motion to accept report as read – Andy Woll, seconded by Marty. Motion passed to accept report as read.
SWEB report- Cheryl Little said that we need to get mobilized about the State Budget. She said that there will be cards distributed to PSSU members to send to their Legislators about the taxing of Marcellus Shale, smokeless tobacco, and closing the Delaware Loophole. There will also be “Purple Days”, where people will be asked to show the colors of the Union. This will be done until the Budget is passed. Members are asked to log onto the Union website for more information. There will also be a Member Action Team. There is much concern about the State Budget, and there is talk of as many as 4500 people being laid off, and programs being closed. DPW is now filling every position that they can. Motion to accept report as read – Greg Kovalick, seconded by Pat Barnes. Motion passed to accept report as read.
In the Corrections System, they are cutting positions through attrition- not hiring when someone leaves. Cheryl Little talked about a room made at Danville State Hospital to be used by the Northumberland County DPW Office. Is this to use less staff ?
Judy Miller then presented the Business Agent Report – There will be an Arbitration for Supervisor Jean Qualia on 6-29-2010. There will also be another Arbitration in July for a worker who was suspended for a day, and this Arbitration will be 7-26-2010. Judy also said that she attended the Labor Management meeting in Williamsport OVR. Meetings are going a lot better there – they had an LMC there with Cherylene Moore (Assistant District Administrator) and Michelle Bornman from OVR Central Office, and the meetings are going a lot better lately. Greg Kovalick from OVR thanked Judy Miller for her help at the OVR LMC meetings. Motion to accept report- Greg Kovalick, seconded by Joyce Johns. Motion passed to accept report as read.
Motion to Adjourn the Meeting – Joyce Johns.
The next Chapter 7 Meeting will be August 17, 2010
Respectfully Submitted by
Greg Kovalick – Chapter 7 Secretary