By Jennifer Gomori, MAPE Editor                                                                                                                                                                                    MAP Executive Board Vice President Mike Kunath (left of Heins Field sign) was one of the speakers at MAPE Labor Relations Specialist Rich Heins' memorial service at Heins Field in Sterling Heights May 6, 2019.

By Jennifer Gomori, MAPE Editor

Several area police departments were represented by their Officers and K9s during a May 6 memorial service honoring Sterling Heights Police K9 Officer Rich Heins, who passed away after developing serious infections.

Heins began working full-time as a MAPE Labor Relations Specialist after vacating his longtime MAP Executive Board President seat due to his March retirement from Sterling Heights PD. He died April 28, 2019 at the age of 54, following six weeks in intensive care at Henry Ford Hospital.

Over 300 memorial attendees passed underneath a large American flag poised atop fire truck ladders at the entrance to Heins Field inside Baumgartner Park in Sterling Heights, where the service was held. The field was named in Heins' honor in late 2018 for his many years training K9s there. During his nearly 30-year career with Sterling Heights, Heins helped start the K9 program, becoming a handler in 1996 and K9 Trainer in 1998.

Rich Heins

Honor Guard members presented his family with a large wreath, folded flag and performed a 21-gun salute. Speakers included family, friends and co-workers like MAP Executive Board Vice President Mike Kunath. Kunath took over Heins position as Sterling Heights Police Officers Association President, a position Heins held for 23 years.

MAPE Executive Director Fred Timpner spoke about Heins’ numerous fine qualities as a parent, a Police Officer and as a Union Representative at the luncheon that followed. “He was respected by all on both sides of the bargaining table,” Timpner said.

Heins leaves behind two sons, Josh, 25, a Marine Corps Sergeant currently assigned to Paris Island, South Carolina and Jacob, 23, a student in the accelerated nursing program at Madonna University, completing his post-graduate studies.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are being accepted for the Richard C. Heins Memorial K9 Fund, 1433 Lochridge, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 48302 or by going to any branch of PNC Bank and asking to make a deposit to the Richard C. Heins Memorial K9 Fund. Funds will be used for Sterling Heights K9 Unit training needs and care of K9s on the force or retired. For more information, call the city of Sterling Heights at (586) 446-2489.

In response to House and Senate Republicans ranking road funding third on their 2019 session priority list behind auto-insurance reform and the budget, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she will not sign any Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 spending plan that doesn’t include the road-funding piece. House Judiciary Chair Representative Graham Filler (R-DeWitt) said, “…there is nothing in writing yet but ‘two or three’ plans are being kicked around that do not include Gov. Whitmer’s new formula for distributing new road dollars… and it is not going to include the 45-cent gas tax hike…” Based on a recent poll, it appears Gov. Whitmer’s statewide effort to garner support for a 45-cents-per-gallon gas tax increase to “fix the damn roads” is failing. Almost 75 percent of residents are opposed, according to a recent poll. Gov. Whitmer unveiled two tuition-free programs in her first State of the State address and budget proposal. One provides free community college for graduating seniors and those over 25 years old, earning good grades and completing the process in a timely manner. Another bases funding on grades and income and can be applied to a four-year degree. The three branches of state government are joining together in a state task force to focus on jail and pretrial incarceration, with the goal of improving the effectiveness of the front end of Michigan’s justice system, according to an executive order signed by Gov. Whitmer. Attorney General Dana Nessel has opined that the Line 5 (oil pipeline) tunnel law is unconstitutional, saying provisions go beyond the scope of what was disclosed in its title. The Michigan Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for July 17 to consider the House and Senate’s requests for an opinion on whether the Legislature can amend two citizen-initiated laws during the same session they were adopted in, after the Legislature did that to the minimum wage and paid sick time ballot proposals. For more on these and other legislative issues, click here for the April 2019 Karoub Report.

CONTRACT

“It was a five-year contract with wage increases each year of the contract,” said MAPE Labor Relations Specialist Joe O’Connor. “They mirrored some language that the Communication Supervisors have. It brought language in line with what other Employees in the City are receiving. They accrue their vacation for 2 years and benefits increase up to 3 years for long term disability.”

“I’ve been there 12 years. This is the first time we’ve done a 5-year (contract),” said Local Union Secretary Fred Robinson. “The City liked it because they can budget 5 years ahead. We have so many units, it gave them the opportunity to not have all the units come to the table the same year. Our wage increase was better than previous years, so that was definitely an added thing for us. We’re getting a week vacation a year earlier than in our previous contract. They added in that 4-1/2 week increment and they lowered the year mark when you start to accrue the third, fourth and fifth week of vacation. They’re trying to get everyone on the same page for workers comp and disability with the other units. Those that are currently on long-term disability would not be affected by the changes. The positive for us is we’re not keeping them on the books for 5 years. It gives us the opportunity to be able to bring someone in. We’re required to take 8 hours of some time out of our bank a month (for short-term disability) and the City supplements the rest of the pay, so we maintain 80 percent pay while we’re on disability.”

Contract Duration: 5-year agreement, ratified August 2018, and effective 7-1-18 to 6-30-23.

Wage Increases:
3% increase effective July 1, 2018.
2% increase effective July 1, 2019.
2% increase effective July 1, 2020.
2% increase effective July 1, 2021.
2% increase effective July 1, 2022.

• Plus a Bonus of $150 in the first year of the contract.

By Jennifer Gomori, MAPE Editor

Michigan Association of Public Employees (MAPE) suffered a tremendous loss April 28 with the passing of former longtime MAP Executive Board President Rich Heins, who just began working as a MAPE Labor Relations Specialist.

Heins had just retired from Sterling Heights Police Department in March when serious infections set in following multiple foot and ankle surgeries. After six weeks in intensive care at Henry Ford Hospital, he succumbed to the infections at the age of 54 surrounded by his loved ones.

Rich Heins

“He was a very fine professional Police Officer who was unselfish of his time and talents and he would help with whatever he could to improve the lives of law enforcement officers and their families,” said MAPE Executive Director Fred Timpner.

Heins broke his left foot and ankle during a K-9 training exercise in September 2017. He took a year off police work and went through many surgeries. Heins returned to light duty for a short time in 2018, but doctors recommended yet another surgery in early 2019. Suffering with pain and swelling, he decided to retire from police work.

Heins suddenly fell ill in mid-March and was admitted to the hospital. As his health deteriorated, doctors put him into a medically-induced coma. Sadly, he never regained consciousness.

“The nurses were so nice to him in intensive care. To cheer him up they would show him pictures of his dogs,” Timpner said. “But Chase (Heins recently retired K9) has been really missing him. He actually moves furniture around the house.”

So, when doctors realized Heins would be passing soon, the nurses wanted Chase by his side. “Henry Ford Hospital staff put a call out to the family to bring the dog down,” Timpner said. “Unfortunately, Sterling Heights Police sent a K9 Officer to pick Chase up, but before they could get down there he passed away. But I thought, ‘What a class move.’”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s budget calls for increasing the gas tax by 45 cents under a three-part phase-in starting Oct. 1 of this year and ending Oct.1, 2020 that would raise about $2.5 billion in new annual revenue for roads. This would be deposited into a new Fixing Michigan Roads Fund and allocated to the most highly traveled and commercially important roads at both the state and local levels. Gov. Whitmer is also asking for an additional $507 million to increase K-12 funding in her Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget including up to $180 more per pupil. Revenue sharing will increase 3 percent for counties, cities, villages and townships. Whitmer has called for eliminating the so-called “pension tax” and proposed paying for it by taxing “pass-through” businesses at the same 6 percent rate as the existing Corporate Income Tax. Budget recommendations also include funding for a new trooper recruit school with the anticipation of graduating 50 new troopers to keep the Michigan State Police enlisted strength at about 2,100. For more information on the Governor's Fiscal Year 2020 budget, please click here for the March 2019 Karoub Report and also visit Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's website.

The Michigan Legislature has rejected a Governor-issued executive order for the first time in 42 years.The Republican-led Legislature passed HCR 1, rejecting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order 2019-2, which would have reorganized the Department of Environmental Quality and abolished three oversight panels created by the Legislature. Attorney General Dana Nessel continues her efforts to withdraw the state from federal cases. In recent weeks, she has withdrawn the state from more than a dozen federal cases. The latest are four cases involving civil rights and two involving transparency. After Gov. Whitmer’s call in the State of the State address for “hands free” legislation, Representative Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham) has introduced HB 4181 to prohibit drivers from using a mobile electronic device while driving unless it is in a “voice-operated or hands-free mode” and the driver doesn’t have to use his or her hands to operate it. Making 9-1-1 calls are exempted. The sale of a former state prison in Ionia for construction of a $35 million private immigration detention center has been scrapped by the governor. A judge has denied an agreement reached between Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and the League of Women Voters. The League of Women Voters brought a lawsuit against the Secretary of State prior to Secretary Benson’s Administration over the Republican-drawn redistricted maps after the most recent census. Writing on behalf of the three-judge panel, U.S. District Judge Eric Clay said Secretary Benson “lacks the authority to enter into the proposed consent decree” which would have seen 11 of Michigan’s 110 House districts redrawn for the 2020 election. Click here for the February 2019 Karoub Report for more details on these and other legislative issues.

Photos by Jennifer Gomori, MAPE Editor                                                                     Stuart Raider talks to MAPE members about retirement planning.

By Jennifer Gomori, MAPE Editor

While it’s true our experiences in life impact our financial decisions, having a plan for retirement isn’t something anyone should go without.

That’s the message Stuart Raider and Peter Mendler recently shared with MAPE members. The Raider Dennis Agency President and Vice President encourage all members to come in for a free financial analysis and thorough retirement plan, so they are ready when it’s time to retire.

“This is something that is available to all MAP, MAPE and MAFF members that are dues paying,” Mendler said.

Raider’s father, Jordan, was only 7-years-old when his own dad passed away unexpectedly. “He learned about financial and emotional hardship,” Raider said.

Those hardships inspired Jordan to build a successful financial planning business, thus inspiring Stuart to follow in his footsteps with the business and get a college education at Michigan State University. “It taught me a lesson about responsibility for my clients,” Raider said.

Mendler experienced a similar upbringing to Raiders’ father. A former IRS Agent, current attorney and financial planner, Mendler was only 5-years-old when his parents divorced. His dad passed away when he was 12. “I went to live with my grandparents,” Mendler said. “I felt like a charity case. I learned what it was like to feel needy, vulnerable. I’ve worked my whole life to never feel like I’m in that position again.”

His grandfather inspired his financial career. “My grandfather instilled in me the value of saving,” Mendler said. “As we face retirement, we don’t want to run out of money.”

Both partners in the Raider Dennis Agency are fiduciaries. They are held to a higher standard of education, knowledge and responsibility to provide individuals with financial plans that will see them through retirement. “A fiduciary is legally bound to act in your best interests,” Mendler said. “Stuart and I are fiduciaries. We take it very seriously to uphold that trust we’re held up to. Not every financial advisor is a fiduciary.”

By Jennifer Gomori, MAPE Editor

Jeff Heston has served his local union almost since the beginning his employment with the City of Jackson, so the transition to becoming MAPE Executive Board President in October 2018 seemed fitting.

Heston, 52, began working at the City of Jackson in October 1994. In 1995, Heston stepped up and became a Local Union Steward after a former Water Department Steward transferred to another department. “I like to be involved. I said, “I’ll do it,’” Heston said. “I’ve been involved with the Union for quite a while.”

Heston is now President of the local MAPE Jackson Public Employees Union. He took on both Union President positions after former MAPE Local and Executive Board President Rusty Holdridge announced his pending retirement in 2017. Holdridge officially retired from the City of Jackson in February 2019.

“When (Holdridge) stepped down, the Union approached me,” said Heston, Maintenance Supervisor of the Clean Water Plant. “I like the organization and I like helping out.”

Heston served as Local MAPE Union Vice President for five years prior to that and grew up in a Union home. His dad worked for Ford Motor Company for 40 years. “My family have been involved with the big three,” Heston said. “Growing up in Detroit, everyone knows about the unions.”

Heston, who served in the Navy from 1985 to 1991 as a Machinist Mate, has been a Union Employee for over two decades. One of his main goals as MAPE Executive Board President is to expand membership. “Through our good representation and good word of mouth from other locals, I’m hoping we can bring some people in that aren’t unionized now or bring others (from competing unions) over to our union,” he said.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she will put forth “a real plan” to fix Michigan’s roads and other infrastructure in her March budget presentation, but when questioned by reporters gave no indication of how she would propose paying for the plan. The Senate and House have set their top legislative priorities. The Senate’s first bill of the 100th Legislature is Senate Bill 1 to address the state’s nation-leading auto insurance rates. The measure includes reform of health insurance and personal injury protection benefits. Senate Democrats are calling for tax credits such as establishing a child care credit for working families with young children and creating a tax credit claw back that would make businesses that leave Michigan pay back incentive dollars they were awarded to come to or stay in Michigan. The Republican House is focusing on Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform to require a criminal conviction before law enforcement agencies could sell or use the property seized based on probable cause. Gambling expansion legislation will quickly be reintroduced this session, according to Representative Brandt Iden (R-Oshtemo Twp.) and Senator Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D-East Lansing). The legislation, which would allow online gaming and horse race betting by cellphone as well as fantasy sports gambling and new charitable gaming regulations, fell victim to former Governor Rick Snyder’s veto pen. Attorney General Dana Nessel has picked Fadwa Hammoud as Solicitor General and tapped her to oversee the Attorney General’s criminal prosecutions in the Flint water crisis. For more on these and other legislative topics, click here for the Jan. 23, 2019 Karoub Report.

Photo by Jennifer Gomori, MAPE Editor                                                                        MAPE Recently elected MAPE Executive Board Officers (from left) President Jeff Heston, Treasurer Nora Smith, Secretary Pam Porman and Vice President Maureen Underhillat at the Annual Holiday Open House at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Novi in December 2018.

After an oft-times contentious lame duck session that saw the GOP-controlled 99th Legislature pass several controversial pieces of the legislation and an all-night session, lawmakers wrapped up their work for the year and the 99th Legislature came to an end. Karoub Associates lobbyist Emily Laidlaw was named Policy Director for Governor Whitmer’s Administration. Laidlaw was instrumental in developing Karoub’s Education Practice. Gov. Rick Snyder has signed several bills including a huge $1.3 billion spending bill that includes $69 million for the Renew Michigan Fund for hazardous waste sites, a new revenue stream ($114 million in FY 2019 and $143 million in FY 2020) for roads, $19.3 million to fight PFAS and $40 million for a new Capitol Visitor Center at the Capitol. Snyder also vetoed 56 bills in his final days of office. Gov. Whitmer started her term, naming the state’s new Budget Director, Treasurer and she appointed new state department Directors, including Col. Joseph Gasper as Director of the Michigan State Police. Detroit developer Dan Gilbert's attempts to revive no-fault auto insurance reform failed to make it out of the Legislature during the last day of the lame duck session. Although the Senate passed legislation that would make all limited access expressways 75 miles per hour and all non-city highways 65 miles per hour, the House stopped the legislation from moving forward. For more details on these and other legislative issues, click here for the January 2019 Karoub Report..

CONTRACT

“They are considered exempt Employees, so they had an increase in Comp Time from 125 to 150 hours,” said MAPE Labor Relations Specialist Joe O’Connor. “They get $1,000 a year stipend for having a master’s degree. They didn’t have that before. We have some Letters of Understanding … If anybody gets a better health care plan, they can get that as well. The technical director and purchasing manager will get more Comp Time because they get hung up with the elections, and with three elections this year, they should be compensated for them.”

“Getting raises back up to 9 percent over four years was an improvement,” said Local Union President Steve Deon. “We understand some of the financial challenges we face as a city, so obviously we have to take that into account when we look at these things. This last contract was a three-year. We are doing a four-year this time. There are several increases in there. The Comp Time is up, master’s degree stipend, the education reimbursement. Overall, we think it’s a fair deal for all sides.”

Contract Duration: 4-year agreement ratified June 12, 2018 and effective from 7-1-18 to 6-30-22.
Wage Increases:
2.5% increase effective July 1, 2018.
2% increase effective July 1, 2019.
2% increase effective July 1, 2020.
2.5% increase effective July 1, 2021.

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