This training is designed to equip HR community participants with important information about understanding Union Grievances and the processes at the University of Minnesota.

The following topics will be covered:

• responding to step 1 grievances
• facilitating step II and III union grievance hearings
• preparing hearing officers for union grievance hearings
• preparing management representatives to preset at union grievance hearings
• resources

The trainings are offered on the following days:

• June 24, 2024 at 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in person at Donhowe 
• June 26, 2024 at 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. via Zoom 

Registration is now open.

This training is designed to equip HR community participants with important information about understanding and supervising in a Union environment at the University of Minnesota.

The following topics will be covered:

• PELRA
• union basics
• obligations and rights
• coaching and corrective action

The trainings are offered on the following days:

• July 8, 2024 at 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. via Zoom 
• August 19, 2024 at 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in person at Donhowe

Registration is now open.

This training covers important information about the University's approach to corrective action, fundamentals of effective performance management and feedback, corrective action for probationary and continuing employees, just cause and due process basics, the specific corrective action steps for each employee group, documentation, and channels for disputing corrective action.

The trainings are offered on the following days:

• Tuesday, June 4 at 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. via Zoom
• Tuesday, June 11 at 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in person, Donhowe Room 210

Registration is now open.

This training covers important information about the University's approach to corrective action, fundamentals of effective performance management and feedback, corrective action for probationary and continuing employees, just cause and due process basics, the specific corrective action steps for each employee group, documentation, and channels for disputing corrective action.

The trainings are offered on the following days:

• Tuesday, June 4 at 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. via Zoom
• Tuesday, June 11 at 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in person, Donhowe Room 210

To RSVP, please fill out the Registration Form.

Dave Fuecker is no longer the Chair of ETAT. OHR is working with senior leaders to determine the best ETAT structure for the University and will keep you informed. In the meantime, if you have an immediate need, please contact UMPD. If it is not an immediate need, contact Senior Consultant Laura Larson (lars2765@umn.edu). She will work with you and leverage University resources and partners (including Dave) to determine appropriate next steps to manage the situation. 
 

ELR is offering Corrective Action and Discipline Training for HR Professionals (non-labor represented). This training covers important information about the University's approach to:

• corrective action, 
• fundamentals of effective performance management and feedback, 
• corrective action for probationary and continuing employees, 
• just cause and due process basics, 
• specific corrective guidance for each employee group including documentation, and channels for disputing corrective action.

Session dates and times are as follows:

• Wednesday, May 22 from 9:00 - 11:00 in person, Donhowe Room 210
• Tuesday, June 4 from 9:00 - 11:00 via Zoom
• New session: Tuesday, June 11 from 1:00 - 3:00 in person, Donhowe Room 210

Complete this form to register. Contact Jean Leuthner (leut0004@umn.edu) with questions.

Please remind recruiters and hiring managers in your college or unit to request motor vehicle records (MVR) checks when hiring for any position that requires a valid driver's license. You can order the candidate's MVR check along with the background check. If you have any questions, please reach out to your college's or unit's assigned Talent Acquisition consultant. 

To ensure compliance and consistency across the institution, ELR developed a process for HR Leads to request a MOU or grievance settlements about applicable union/collective bargaining agreements.  As a single employer, it is extremely important we adhere to a centralized process for such requests to mitigate risks and ensure awareness of contractual obligations. For questions, please contact ELR@umn.edu.

• Grievance and MOU Process Flowchart
• Grievance Settlement Template
• MOU Template

We want to thank colleges, campuses, and units who are ensuring that new labor-represented employees are attending New Employee Orientation (NEO). Not only are you helping new employees transition smoothly into their roles, you are also helping the University comply with PELRA. Unfortunately, we continue to receive concerns from AFSCME, Teamsters, and GLU-UE that some colleges, campuses, and units are not complying with the NEO requirements. Here is what we have been told: 

• HR is not informing the union of when NEO will take place
• HR and/or supervisors are telling employees that NEO is optional
• Supervisors are not sending employees to union NEO
• HR points of contact for NEO are not responding to union outreach in select campus, college, or units

As a reminder, the University must comply with NEO requirements under PELRA. New labor-represented employees are expected to attend NEO, it is not optional since it is a part of their orientation. The Minn. Stat. Sec. 179A.07, Subd. 9 law allows unions to have in-person access to new employees in the bargaining unit for 30 minutes of paid time within 30 days of starting employment. If new employee orientations are being held, the applicable union(s) should be notified by local HR at least 10 days in advance. HR shall work with the union(s) to ensure compliance with this requirement which apply to all unions at the University, including LELS, 1-M, 1-B, IBEW, Trades Council(s), Teamsters, AFSCME, UEA-D, UEA-C, and GLU-UE. Local HR is also responsible for ensuring all supervisors understand the NEO requirements and their role in making sure new employees attend NEO with their unions. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Additionally, please remember that the following resources are available to the HR community to help ensure compliance with the new law. 

• Link to List of Union Representatives
• Reporting Tools and New Employee Orientation Meetings
• Guide to New Employee Orientation
• Minn. Stat. Sec. 179A.07, Subd. 9
• Campus, College, Unit NEO contacts  (Unions utilize this list to know who to contact.)

Please email ELR@umn.edu when updates need to be made. 

Beginning Monday, May 13, all benefits-eligible employees can adjust their benefits in MyU within 30 days of a qualifying life event—like marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, a change in eligibility, or another life event. This means benefits-eligible employees can make important benefit changes when it’s convenient for them. MyU also provides better data security and quicker service times, so employees will see their changes sooner. OHR has prepared a communications toolkit to help you share this update with your teams.