Melvindale Command chooses MAP based on positive reputation

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

A reputation for great communication motivated Melvindale Police Command to make a change from their longtime former union representation to the Michigan Association of Police (MAP).

The Sergeants and Lieutenants group had been with the Police Officers Labor Council (POLC) for more than 15 years before they voted to become MAP members in May. They decided to find out more about MAP after hearing positive feedback from Melvindale Patrol, who left Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM) to join MAP in 2018.

Melvindale Police Lt. Dan Jones said Command really took notice of the positive relationship between Patrol Officers and MAP Representatives.

“They wanted different representation and they wanted a new look,” said MAP Labor Relations Specialist Chad Trussler.

“MAP had taken over POAM for Patrol and we really liked your guys interaction with Patrol,” Lt. Jones said. “I met Chad through Staff and Command (school at Eastern Michigan University) and we decided to take a look at MAP and liked what you presented - what you said you would do. It just seemed like your guys were motivated to work with us.”

Read more: Melvindale Command chooses MAP based on positive reputation

Bloomfield Hills Public Safety a match for MAP

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

Bloomfield Hills Public Safety Officers didn’t feel like larger departments could relate to their unique work schedules. So, when they discovered Michigan Association of Police (MAP) Labor Relations Specialist Chad Trussler came from a similar public safety department, they wanted to hear more.

“Chad works in the area and understands how we work our schedule because its unique,” said Bloomfield Hills Public Safety Local Union President Dan Telfer. “He understands our department and our schedule better than somebody who works a straight 40-hour work week. We work a 24-hour shift.”

“They reached out to me and we did a presentation,” said Trussler, a Lieutenant with Beverly Hills Public Safety.

After listening to presentations from competing unions, Bloomfield Hills Public Safety Officers voted to change representation to MAP in May. They were formerly represented by Police Officers Labor Council (POLC).

“Some of the guys were a little concerned with our command guy being on the POLC board and we thought that might be a conflict of interest,” Telfer said. “One of the other dilemmas we have is we’re a small unit and we don’t get a whole lot of attention sometimes and MAP is a little bit of a smaller Union and we thought we’d match up better.”

Read more: Bloomfield Hills Public Safety a match for MAP

MAP Legal Counsel shares COVID-19 workplace exposure update

MAP Legal Counsel Bryan Davis shared an update with members regarding Governor Gretchen Whitmer's latest Executive Order (EO) on workplace exposure to COVID-19:

To All,

Governor Whitmer has issued Executive Order 2020-128: Clarifying WDCA Eligibility for Workplace Exposure to COVID-19 (Rescission of Executive Order 2020-125). Please note that this EO has suspended the Emergency Rules which had been issued by the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

Notably, "[f]or purposes of the WDCA, and subject to rebuttal by specific facts to the contrary, a COVID-19 response employee who is confirmed as COVID-19 positive on or after March 18, 2020, either by physician or by test, shall be presumed to have suffered a “personal injury,” as that term is defined by section 401(2)(b) of the WDCA, MCL 418.401(2)(b)."

Please note that "COVID-19 response employee" is defined in the EO.

Please click here for a link to the EO 2020-128 for more details.

Governor announces schools may reopen for in-person instruction this fall, State of Emergency extended

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Michigan schools may resume in-person education as part of Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan, with health and safety measures in place.

Whitmer said she is “optimistic” schools will return to in-person learning in the fall. Whitmer plans to release an Executive Order and Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap June 30 based on recommendations from the Return to Learn Advisory Council and health care leaders. She said she will use the MI Safe Start Plan and Michigan’s eight MERC regions to decide where in-person instruction can resume and how that instruction will be implemented.

The governor stressed the need for federal financial assistance for schools, as they will have increased costs due to new protocols.

She also extended the State of Emergency, which was set to expire June 19, until July 16. The State of Emergency gives Whitmer the authority to issue COVID-19 related Executive Orders. She said all states are currently operating under some form of State of Emergency.

Whitmer said she still hopes to move the rest of the state to Phase 5 of the MI Safe Start Plan by July 4. She urged residents and businesses to continue to do their part to reduce the spread of coronavirus by wearing masks and keeping a 6-foot social distance between individuals not residing in the same household.

2020 Scholar

2020 Carl Parsell Scholar got jump start on college education

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

Unlike 2020 high school graduates around the nation, this year’s Carl Parsell Scholarship winner was able to experience his graduation ceremony and other end of senior year milestones.

That’s because 2020 scholar Nathan Sharkey finished his senior year at Grass Lake High School in 2019, although he didn’t officially graduate until June 14, 2020. Sharkey completed his fifth year of high school through a free early college program at Jackson Community College.

“I’m very happy I didn’t have to go to a normal college this year. All of it was on campus until the coronavirus came and the last seven weeks were at home,” Sharkey said. “It’s definitely made me happy that I had graduation last year and got to finish up my whole school year.”

Sharkey did, however, miss the formal celebration of his scholarship during the Annual Carl Parsell Memorial Golf Outing, which was canceled due to the pandemic. Typically, scholarship recipients and their parents are recognized during the outing’s steak dinner finale by Union staff, event participants and sponsors.

“The Raider Dennis Agency looks forward to the scholarship event every year,” said V.I.P. Sponsor Stuart Raider. “It is an honor to be a part of the long-standing tradition that my father, Jordan Raider, took part in of gifting a scholarship to the next generation of bright individuals. Congratulations to Nathan Sharkey! I look forward to meeting you in the future.”

The son of MAPE member Joseph Sharkey, a Mechanic Operator for the City of Jackson Wastewater Treatment Plant, graduated with a 3.8 GPA while completing his first year of college. He will transfer to Ferris State University this fall to pursue a degree in Applied Science and is planning a career as a machinist.

Sharkey has been working as a Basic Machinist at Mid-America Machining in Brooklyn, Michigan. The Grass Lake resident began working there during a vocational education program through Jackson Area Career Center. “I took the class there for two years and it led me to get a job there,” Sharkey said.

Read more: 2020 Scholar

As Northern Michigan moves to Phase 5 reopening, personal services opening thoughout state

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Orders moving two regions in Northern Michigan into Phase 5 of her MI Safe Start Plan and opening personal services throughout the state.

Regions 6 and 8, the Upper Pennisula and Traverse City region, will transition to Phase 5 on June 10, opening hair, massage and nail salons, movie theaters and gyms. COVID-19 safety protocols and procedures are established in the Executive Orders to protect employees and customers. Facial coverings must be worn by customers and employees, who are required to maintain a social distance of six-feet between them.

On June 15, personal services, including hair, massage and nail salons, will reopen statewide, with Regions 1-5 and 7 remaining in Phase 4.

Phase 5 also expands indoor and outdoor social gathering limits with restrictions. Indoor social gatherings and organized events of up to 50 people are permitted provided individuals maintain social distance of six feet. Outdoor social gatherings and organized events of no greater than 250 people are allowed with the six-feet social distancing. However, outdoor performance and sporting venues are given an additional capacity of up to 500 persons, maintaining social distance.

Specific indoor public entertainment venues in the northern regions, including: arcades, bowling alleys, cinemas, climbing facilities, convention centers, performance spaces, meeting halls, night clubs, sports arenas, theaters, or similar venues may open up to 25% of their maximum capacity or 250 people, whichever is smaller, with social distancing maintained.

Click here for the complete details in Executive Orders 2020-114 and 2020-115.

Whitmer updated workplace safeguards for gyms, in-home services, hair salons, and entertainment venues and appointed Sean Egan, Deputy Director for Labor at the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, to serve as Director of COVID-19 Workplace Safety. Executive Directive 2020-6 details the appointment. Executive Order 2020-91 requires businesses follow strict safety guidelines to protect workers and patrons from COVID-19 infection.

Governor lifts stay-at-home order, opens more businesses with social distancing, safety guidelines

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lifted the state’s stay-at-home order June 1 and moved the entire state into Phase 4 of the six-phase reopening plan, but while more businesses are opening she was quick to add social distancing and facial coverings are still required.

Now in the “Improving” phase, groups of 100 or less may gather outdoors with social distancing, effective immediately. Retailers may open to customers, no longer by appointment only, starting June 4 and restaurants are able to reopen for dining inside June 8, with capacity limits. Restaurants must also place tables 6-feet apart and have servers wear masks. Day camps may reopen, with restrictions, and outdoor public pools may reopen at 50 percent capacity on June 8. In-home services, like housecleaning, and office work that cannot be performed remotely may also resume.

Indoor gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people. Residents must wear facial coverings inside enclosed public spaces and should continue to work from home to the maximum extent possible. Social distancing among individuals not in the same household remains in place. Whitmer encouraged those at high risk of severe medical complications if they were to contract COVID-19 to continue to stay home.

Executive Order 110 prohibits the following businesses from reopening at this time: Indoor cinemas and performance venues, indoor exercise and recreation facilities, casinos, state-licensed racetracks and non-essential personal care services including: hair, nails, tanning, tattoos, piercing, and traditional spas.

Indoor or outdoor amusement, recreation or entertainment services or facilities involving close contact for patrons remain closed including: amusement parks, arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor climbing facilities, indoor dance areas, skating rinks and trampoline parks.

Gov. Whitmer said she hopes to continue lowering restrictions for certain areas of the state as early as later this week. However, should there be a resurgence of coronavirus cases in the state, she said, the return to more stringent restrictions may be necessary.

“Celebrate safely, practice social distancing and wear your masks,” she said.

Click here for more details on Executive Order 110.

Governor Whitmer announces Futures for Frontliners program, supports Sen. Peters' Heroes Fund proposal

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the “Futures for Frontliners” program April 29, providing essential workers a tuition-free pathway to college or a technical certificate if they don’t have a college degree. She also urged leaders in Congress to support U.S. Sen. Gary Peters’ Heroes Fund proposal to provide hazard pay to frontline workers who provide life-saving care, food and other critical services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whitmer said she hopes other states will follow suit with programs similar to “Futures for Frontliners” to recognize their essential workers for putting their lives on the line during the pandemic.

MAP previously reported on Peters’ efforts to support frontline workers by reaching out to FEMA in a March 31st letter about the dire need for personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers. Peters’ Heroes Fund proposal calls for up to $25,000 in hazard pay for essential workers and presses for additional protective gear and other measures to help ensure the health and safety of frontline workers.