Minneapolis, MN – On September 20, Hennepin County library workers rallied at the East Lake Street Library, located in the heart of last year’s George Floyd rebellion, to call on county commissioners to fully fund and staff public libraries. At the rally, frontline support staff and library workers spoke out against cutting staff during a pandemic, saying that people need the library services more than ever.

The workers held signs along the side of Lake Street as people passing by held out their fists and honked in solidarity. The library users appeared to be supportive, and when they learned that Hennepin County was cutting more positions, many called the county commissioner or asked how they could help.

Sonia Meade, a resident of the area and regular East Lake Library patron came to the rally after hearing about it on the morning news. “I want more money for libraries not less,” Meade observed. “I want more library staff not less. I’m very concerned by what I’m hearing.”

David Wang, a new Minneapolis resident came after seeing a post about it on Twitter. “It’s so important to support our libraries and their workers. Libraries have been so important during this pandemic. That’s why I came here today, to support library workers.”

In the summer of 2020 the Hennepin County board cut 66 full-time library positions, despite strong financial reserves. Later that year they attempted to cut an additional 35 positions but eventually decided not to after library workers and the community fought back against the move.

The union members say that the county is looking at more cuts and a potential 14% reduction in total staff compared to pre-COVID levels. Despite widespread reports of staffing issues, the library is increasing hours by 376 hours in October. Library workers and their union support more hours but say that with current staffing levels it is not safe nor is it feasible and that, without increasing staff, library users will have to wait longer for books and movies, receive less support for job searches, computer questions and tech support; and overall will find diminished services.

In addition to cutting staff, Hennepin County Library has also been cutting services, recently shutting down the Franklin Learning Center, which offered educational opportunities to new immigrants; cutting the collection budget and removing staff and public computers.

After the rally, union leaders from AFSCME Local 2822 and AFSCME Local 2864 sent a joint letter to county commissioners calling for a return of the 66 positions cut last year and to retain all existing vacancies; and return plexiglass shields that were removed from public desks earlier this summer.

#MinneapolisMN #PeoplesStruggles #AFSCME #HennepinCounty

Minneapolis, MN – More than 30 mothers, parents, children and supporters who work for Hennepin County gathered at Painter Park, December 19, to call on Hennepin County Commissioners to hold an emergency board meeting to pass COVID Childcare and Caregiver Leave at full pay until schools and daycares are fully functional.

The action took place one day after Board Chair Marion Greene met with mothers and union representatives and refused to exercise her power and act.

Last spring the federal government passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), authorizing leave at two-thirds pay for parents. This leave is set to expire in two weeks.

School and childcare closures have greatly impacted the lives of all caregivers regardless of gender. However, organizers emphasized that childcare leave is largely a women’s issue. The struggle of mothers has largely been absent from mainstream media and political discussions. The continued silence and lack of action by elected officials and county administration speaks to the ongoing and systemic oppression of women.

Across the country, COVID-related childcare issues are forcing women out of the workforce at alarming rates. According to recent government statistics, 617,000 women left the workforce in September alone, compared with only 78,000 men. One in four women are considering leaving the workforce altogether. FFCRA only guarantees paid leave at two-thirds of an employee’s hourly wage, and most Hennepin County employees cannot afford a one-third pay cut. This has left low-paid workers, single parents and parents with one-income households in financial crisis.

Regina Andrews, a welfare worker and mother of three, told supporters that she has to go in the bathroom to scream and cry on her lunch break because the stress of being a worker, mother, nurse, teacher and chef is too much.

For those who did take the leave, the loss of income has been devastating. “Two-thirds of my pay does not pay my bills,” says Aimee Wimberlay, single mother of two, also a welfare worker for Hennepin County. “I did it [took federal leave] for as long as I could and I have nearly lost my house in the process. I even attempted to apply for emergency assistance and was denied because I made too much.”

Speaking anonymously, another county worker and single mother of five stated, “Last spring I was struggling with depression and anxiety. It was very difficult. I was living in the dark. I took the time off even though it put me at financial risk. Since March I have been behind in my rent. I only can pay the late fees. I took that risk. Why? Because I was desperate and had no other choice.”

Union officials are calling on the county to pass a stopgap measure to provide COVID childcare and caregiver leave at full pay until schools and daycares are fully functional. The county leave would supplement, not supplant, any potential state or federal action.

After the action at Painter Park, attendees drove in a car caravan down Hennepin Avenue to the Walker Sculpture Garden. With signs taped to their cars reading “Hennepin County: help my mommy help me!” and “Let me eat,” the caravan passed two blocks away from Board Chair Marion Greene’s home. When participants arrived at the Sculpture Garden, they celebrated their ongoing struggle with snacks and holiday pictures in front of the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture.

Participants vow to continue their struggle. As Latonya Reeves, president of AFSCME Local 552 and the AFSCME Hennepin County Policy Committee stated, “Hennepin County, support your workers the way we support the community.”

#MinneapolisMN #PeoplesStruggles #AFSCME #COVID19 #HennepinCounty

As no action was taken at their final scheduled meeting of 2020 on December 15, Hennepin County AFSCME calls on Board Chair Marion Greene to schedule an emergency board meeting before the December 31 deadline.

Hennepin County AFSCME is also planning a car caravan, Saturday December 19, 1 p.m., starting at Painter Park Parking Lot, 620 W 34th Street, in Minneapolis, to press their demands.

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners met December 15 to approve the 2021 budget. Absent from the meeting was any relief for Hennepin County employees and working parents who need leave at full pay to care for their children.

“The county has done a lot to take care of residents,” observed Latonya Reeves, mother and Hennepin County AFSCME Policy Committee president. “It needs to put the same energy into taking care of its workers, many of whom are having to request financial assistance themselves.”

During the meeting’s public comment section, 13 union members and mothers of school-aged children shared their experiences working and taking care of their children full time. Mothers related the financial and mental toll it has taken on them and many described how using existing federal childcare leave, which only provides two-thirds of pay and left them on the verge of homelessness.

AFSCME is calling on Hennepin County to extend COVID childcare leave at full pay until schools and daycares are fully operational.

Union representatives will be meeting with County Board Chair Greene on Friday, December 18, to urge her to hold a special board meeting to pass a resolution for full paid leave and renew other COVID protections, such as a moratorium on evictions that are set to expire at the end of the year.

#MinneapolisMN #PeoplesStruggles #AFSCME #HennepinCounty

The event was sponsored by the Hennepin County AFSCME Policy Committee, representing six AFSCME unions and over 5000 county workers.

The gathering was scheduled one day before Hennepin County Board of Commissioners were slated to authorize layoffs, mandatory furloughs, and other cuts to Hennepin County worker benefits.

These measures were delayed but will likely come before the board in the coming weeks.

What layoffs at the county would mean for the community

Proposed staffing cuts stand to roll back vital community services at a time when county residents are facing devastation from both the pandemic and the unfolding economic crisis.

The county has already permanently closed eight libraries and plans layoffs in the department along with other direct service areas such as probation. Layoff proposals stand to deepen existing racial disparities in the county and undermine the county’s recent initiative to approach racism as a public health crisis.

“Hennepin County is based on the premise of serving residents,” says Latonya Reeves, president of AFSCME Hennepin County Policy Committee and AFSMCE Local 552. “Frontline staff have worked with remarkable adaptability during these difficult times to provide excellent, efficient services to residents.

We want to ensure continued access to services amidst the ongoing pandemic, civil unrest and uncertain times for the BIPOC community and all the communities we serve. Cutting staff means limiting services and we don’t want that.”

Support for working parents

Across the country, COVID-related childcare issues are forcing parents, particularly women and women of color, out of the workforce at alarming rates.

According to recent government statistics, 617,000 women left the workforce in September alone, compared with only 78,000 men. One in four women are considering leaving the workforce, says McKinsey's and LeanIn's Women in the Workplace report. AFSCME is awaiting county-specific data but know that mothers are being hit hard.

Speaking to her experience as a county worker and mother, AFSCME Local 2822 Vice President Jayne Mikulay stated, “As a single parent I have exhausted my federal COVID FMLA leave and I have no option of remote work. I need to support my son’s distance learning and I am now being forced to take unpaid leave. I am being penalized as a woman and single parent for not having the ability to do two jobs at once.”

Women who are able to work from home find themselves in an impossible situation as well. “We are forced to choose between supporting our children, helping them educationally, paying bills and work,” says Aimee Wimberly, a county financial worker and single mother whose been working remotely since March. The AFSCME Local 34 member went on to say, “It seems the county is going out of their way to create more obstacles for us and controlling our schedules in a way that allows us no flexibility. Forcing us into using leaves that pay us significantly less than our wages and putting us into financial distress.

AFSCME is calling on the county to expand childcare leave for those who’ve run out, supplement existing federal childcare leave which only covers two-thirds of parent’s and caregivers regular pay, and create county-sponsored daycare centers.”

Safety

Workers who must work onsite are demanding increased safety measures on the job. Workers at least two Hennepin County Libraries, Minneapolis Central in downtown Minneapolis and Washburn Library, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past weeks.

There are probably many more cases. Speaking to their experience with COVID-19, one worker wrote, “I went to the ER for asthma-related symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19. I had a bad case and was transferred to Bethesda Hospital in Saint Paul. That first day I spent worrying if my co-workers would be informed that they should get tested. It angers me that I may have unknowingly spread the virus to my co-workers, and to the patrons who visit the library. Especially when there are things that the county can be doing but are choosing not to do: such as mandatory notification of positive cases, mandatory testing and temperature checks and verbal screenings at the door, common sense things the union has been pushing for.”

Responding to the union’s request for these additional safety measures, Labor Relations Representative Kathy Megarry stated that only in “unique circumstances” would staff be notified of positive cases in the workplace. Workers at Target and other retail areas are routinely informed of positive cases.

Retaliation

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Hennepin County workers have been voicing their health and safety concerns by speaking publicly at Hennepin County commissioner meetings.

In some areas, such as the Department of Community Corrections, the response has been silence or intimidation.

Speaking out against a rushed return to work plan in Adult Probation, AFSCME 2822 Steward Susannah Olson observed, “Mothers and employees with health concerns were given two or three days’ notice of their new schedule in the office. After speaking up at the county board meeting and filing a class action grievance, asking for a one-week extension of the return to work date, so mothers could find child care, I received a ‘coaching’ session the very next day. The coaching session questioned my union activity.”

During a meeting with AFSCME union representatives on September 16, Mark Thompson, assistant county administrator of public safety, threatened layoffs if support staff continue their advocacy.

AFSCME is calling for an end to retaliation for all those who speak out and for the removal of the coaching letter for Sue Olson and no discipline for the others.

#MinneapolisMN #PoorPeoplesMovements #AFSCME #HennepinCounty #COVID #HennepinCountyAFSCMEPolicyCommittee