Department of Children & Families

Brothers and Sisters,

Lately, there has been a lot of confusion about the STS units and the status of ICPM negotiations.  Some have been told that the Union has agreed to all aspects of the STS units; some have been told that the selection of staff for the units will be handled a certain way; some have been told this, that or the other thing.  You get the idea.  There has been a lot of confusion, and in some cases, contradictory information out there about the status of ICPM/STS negotiations.  Much of it has been inaccurate.

I want to use this newsletter to explain directly to you where negotiations stand at this point.

The only “firm” agreement between DCF and SEIU Local 509 regarding the STS units is contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the parties in August 2011.  This agreement contained “broad strokes” of what the STS units would be and what they would do, but had no final decisions on the actual functions to be completed by staff in these units (this would include the frequency and type of client and collateral contact, what would encompass the “focused assessment” and “focused service plan,” etc.).  These “nuts and bolts” issues remain topics being addressed at the bargaining table.

I sent a letter to Commissioner McClain reminding him of these facts.  A week or so ago, I sent to all DCF stewards a memo concerning the details of what has been agreed to and what has not, as well as copies of the signed MOU and letter I sent to the Commissioner.  Please see one of your stewards if you would like to view these documents yourselves.

The Commissioner has since forwarded the draft job descriptions for these new STS functions – both supervisor and social worker descriptions – as well as the Department’s proposal for what will be done in the STS units.  These have been presented as part of bargaining, and the Union and DCF will bargain these issues in formal negotiations.  No agreements have been reached to these detailed documents as I write this newsletter, but negotiations remain ongoing.

The issue of selection of staff for these units has been a source of much anxiety for the field, and understandably so.  To that end, the Vice Presidents and I have met with the Union office to ensure that all staff selection will be done in accordance with the contract.  We submitted to DCF our expectations in this regard, so that the contract is followed, and DCF has agreed with our interpretation of the contract.  You should speak with your Vice Presidents or me for more detailed information, but briefly, the process will be as follows:

• DCF will identify, by office, the number of STS staff needed for the function (for example, five staff).
• DCF will identify, by office, the needed contraction of staff in the ongoing and investigation functions (for example, two investigative positions and three ongoing positions).
• Volunteers from the affected pools (in this example, investigative and ongoing) will be sought.
• Of the qualified volunteers, seniority will determine who moves to the new STS function.

DCF and the Union remain in talks to minimize, or hopefully avoid, any involuntary moves.  Negotiation sessions are scheduled over the coming weeks and we will keep you posted as the process moves along.

In a topic related to ICPM negotiations, DCF has submitted a caseload proposal, which would change the weighting of cases in light of the work we now do at DCF.  This, as you will recall, was something I had demanded be in the MOU signed in August; that DCF and the Union bargain new caseload weightings and that DCF seek the money for the staff needed.  The fact that DCF submitted this caseload proposal not only complies with the MOU, but provides hope that we are moving towards long-needed changes to our caseload weighting system.  There is still much work to be done, but this is a very positive first sign.

Computers

The Commissioner has been advocating for the field to get new computers.  The Union has made this a priority issue for our members, given the loss in productivity that our members incur by the slow computers.  Based in part on information the Union was able to provide, the Commissioner and his staff have been able to secure the resources for 2,000 new computers for the field (Social Workers and Supervisors).   We have been told that these new computers will be on people’s desks by June 2012, barring any unforeseen budget setbacks.  This is long overdue and good news to all of us who lose as much as two hours a day (or more!) in lost productivity simply because we’re waiting for a computer to start up.

Safety Committee

There is a lot of exciting work going on in this committee.  DCF has been working collaboratively with the Union on this issue, and the goal is to establish a protocol that DCF will use to support workers and supervisors in the field.  We all know the work is hard.  We all know the affects of secondary trauma.  DCF has the chance to become one of the first, if not the first, child protection agencies in the country to have a formal process to address workers’ well being in the field.

To this end, a Resiliency Planning Survey was sent out this month from Local 509 via email (Click here to participate Survey Monkey).  We hope that everyone will take just a few minutes of your time to answer the following survey questions.   Results from this survey will be used to help develop an appropriate and standardized response to the trauma we experience as a part of the work.

GROUP 2 UPDATE

The Group 2 Bill is currently in the House Ways and Means Committee and coming in January the Union will aggressively start lobbying your State Reps. to move the bill onto the Floor! Please stay tuned for updates after the New Year.

I have been tremendously honored to have served as your Chapter President over this past year, and while there are many challenges that lie ahead, we have had some successes, and I look forward to celebrating the successes when we can and taking on the challenges head on when we must.

In the meantime, I hope everyone has a safe, happy, and joyous holiday season.

In unity,

Peter MacKinnon

DCF Chapter President

In response to the issue of outdated computers at DCF (and the subsequent delays and barriers to logging on to computers at work), brought to DCF’s attention in part by the SEIU Local 509 DCF Chapter Technology Committee, Commissioner McClain and his staff have successfully advocated for the resources needed for new computers!

Commissioner McClain has informed the Union that there is a plan in place to have 2,000 new computers out in the field by the end of the fiscal year (June 2012).  While we would prefer the new computers be on our desks tomorrow, DCF has at least secured the resources needed for the new equipment, barring any unforeseen budget cuts.

Thank you to all who filled out the computer delay forms, which were extremely helpful in advocating for the new computers.  As we hear more about the timeframes for the new equipment, we will keep you posted.

Julie Cardoza-Pietruszka - DCF Chapter Technology Committee Chair

Peter MacKinnon - DCF Chapter President

Peter MacKinnon - Chapter President

Brothers and Sisters,

This past year has been a busy one for the DCF Chapter.  From our fight on Group 2, to our win at the Division of Labor Relations, to a new aspect of the ICPM being introduced, there has been a lot going on between DCF and our Union.

Overall, this year has brought important victories for the Chapter.  Our Group 2 bill has moved successfully along in the legislative process, quicker than ever before.  We worked hard to get the endorsement of many legislators, labor councils, and advocacy groups.  We know that this is a benefit that our members deserve, and we are winning this fight.

In August, the Division of Labor Relations issued its ruling on the Union’s unfair labor practice charge, finding that DCF had in fact violated the law when it implemented the ICPM without bargaining the impact with the Union first.  While we knew this to be true, it is vindicating to have this decision made in our favor, as it reinforced that DCF must treat the Union as an equal at the bargaining table.

DCF heard the Union’s concerns about the ever increasing burden ongoing social workers have faced regarding the demands of the ICPM.  DCF has offered to modify the ICPM to help balance the workload of ongoing workers.  The Union demanded that we needed a commitment from DCF to adjust the caseload weightings and for the agency to seek the funding for the staff needed to achieve these new weightings; the Union got both of these things for the first time in the history of Local 509.

We’ve had these victories, but much work lies ahead.  We will remain vigilant and will hold DCF accountable at the bargaining table as we continue to negotiate ICPM.  We have work to do to ensure that our Group 2 bill passes this legislative session.  We will continue to work to be sure that your voice is heard.

This year has been busy for me in the Union.  I have met many of you.  I have heard your praise, your concerns, and your suggestions for how to make your union a better union.  I continue to be amazed and humbled by who you are and the work you all do.  It has been an honor to be able to serve as your chapter President.  I look forward to continuing the fight.

I want to give my sincere thanks to your Chapter Leadership Team, the Vice Presidents (Ethel Everett, Greg Sanford, Joe Manna, Brett Cabral, Anthony Labo, and Julie Cardoza-Pietruszka) and the Chapter Executive Board.  We are effective when we work together.  In union there is strength and without the help of all involved, our victories this past year and in the future would not be possible.