DHFS Labor Management Minutes 8/18/03, State Office Building, Madison

 

Labor:  Diane Kruchten, Stephanie Tust, Mary Seruga, Amy Huss, Kathy Ryder-Welter, Josh Meier, Steve Jacobs, Bonnie O’Connell

 

Management:  Stephanie Nagel, Dale Langer, Stacey Davidsayer

 

New Business:

 

No new business.

 

Old Business: 

 

Special Needs Adoption Program Issues:   Case consultation meeting will be September 12th in Portage at the courthouse from 10 AM-3 PM.

 

 District offices will stay open for employees that work close to those locations.  This will be available as long as the offices stay open. Management will be looking at reducing the space at these offices, but they will stay open. 

 

Job Sharing is still being discussed.  Management has been discussing job shares with other agencies that do them, so a decision will be made soon.  The Union is willing to keep discussions open regarding job shares. 

 

QA is funded within the budget for two more years (2003-2005).  Union is concerned about the five county contracts with the regional boundaries changing.  Management states those contracts will stay in effect.  Any changes needed will be part of the next bid process.  Management agrees they need to have clear definitions and roles for consultation. Management indicates that ideas will be solicited from staff.   Union is concerned that the money the state will be saving by cutting staff will be used to pay contract agencies. In other states that have privatized adoption, the money paid to these contract agencies have increased.  Consultation costs are not figured into the cost of an adoption so the Union is concerned that the legislature will not understand the importance of this position.  Management states the cost of adoption starts at TPR and ends at adoption.  Management states that Matrix is being done on cases that stay within the program. Management reports there are no planned lay-offs at this time.        

 

Professional Development:  Arbitration pending.  Grievances are still being submitted as they arise.

 

Budget/Position cuts:  There is no new information.

 

Assisted Living Issues:  Union requests the status of changing Licensing Cert Specialists to Health Service Specialists.  Management will follow.  Union requests information about who makes this decision.  Management will report back.

 

HSS not being utilized as QMRP Surveyors:  Management person with this information not present, deferred.  

 

Rehabilitation Specialists for the Blind:  Grievance has been filed regarding contracting out.

 

Economic Support Quality Assurance Specialists PPD: Union was informed by management that 1/3 of the staff have problems with meeting the return rate standard.  Union is concerned about the potential of these staff being placed on concentrated PPD’s.  Management indicates the actual break down is:  

1/3 of the staff are always on time, 1/3 are in between the 100-80% and 1/3 occasionally have problems.  Plans are being discussed how to improve the 1/3 of the staff who occasionally have problems.   Union discussed that staff does not receive consideration for time on vacation, training and sick leave.  Union discussed how an employee gets behind and it is difficult to catch up.  Management doesn’t feel this is the problem, but will discuss with supervisors and bring back to next meeting.

 

 

 

.Submitted by:  Amy Huss, Local 2748 Secretary

 

Next meeting:  09/15/03 at 10:00 AM in B145.