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2822 A New Voice
A Website for the Members of AFSCME Local 2822
May 2003


copyright Jim Evans and wildlandfire.com

Retirement/Resignation Incentive vote


Unless you are Rip Van Winkle and just woke up, you are aware of the Retirement/Resignation Incentive Program that is being offered to Hennepin County Employees. The statement that the program is "for non union employees (it is the County's intent to also offer this program to union employees pending negotiations with their exclusive representatives)" has alarmed some.

The leadership of the AFSCME Locals at Hennepin County feels that this is the best offer we can get in the current State budget crisis, a crisis which negatively affects the County's own budget. The AFSCME leadership has continually pushed Hennepin County to create an early retirement incentive program prior to their making this offer. Any delay created by further discussion would likely limit the opportunity for our members to take advantage of this program. Therefore the Executive Board is recommending that the membership accept this offer.

The regular contract negotiations that were written about in the last newsletter have not moved ahead at the speed that had been hoped. A second meeting with Labor Relations was delayed until April 24th. As this newsletter goes to press the outcome is unknown. As soon as possible after the meeting on April 24, we will get information on our website. Early Negotiations Update



Last revised 04/28/03. Some images courtesy of AFSCME from the Webmasters Corner at AFSCME.org. The flag image above is courtesy of wildlandfire.com. Please visit their site - the image is to honor and remember the firefighters who lost their lives in the tragedies of September 11, 2001. Send comments and suggestions to the webmaster: Sheryl Johnson