After over 22 years of service, MGEC Executive Director Dana Wheeler has “sailed” towards retirement. We wish him well as he moves into the next chapter, and I thank him for showing me the ropes of MGEC since my own start with the organization in March of 2022.
MGEC is a special organization that I feel fortunate to be a part of. As the Exclusive Representative for a group of state employees that has been designated by the legislature as “essential”, it occupies a unique place among the state’s collective bargaining units. Because we have the right to arbitration instead of striking in the event of an impasse in contract bargaining, our tactics to get the best outcomes for our members need to reflect that position. With that in mind, we are ready to begin bargaining for the 2025-27 contract!
Over the last three years, I’ve been able to meet many MGEC members across the state through the “Lunch with MGEC” series. From Brainerd to Duluth to Mankato, I’ve brought pizza and a willingness to listen to what MGEC members need. It has been very motivating to learn how MGEC members serve the State of Minnesota – and to be a part of solutions to make our work lives better. There is so much more to do.
For those I haven’t been able to meet yet, a little about me. Prior to MGEC I was the Business Manager for LIUNA Local 363, representing public works employees for the cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, as well as seven other public organizations ranging from the Family Service workers in Kanabec County to supervisors for the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District. I negotiated eleven contracts for nine different employers; I’m comfortable building a team to represent our interests at the negotiation table. Additionally, I am also a Commissioner on Minneapolis’ Civil Service Commission and an Advisory Board member for Damascus Way, an organization that helps individuals transition out of the prison system.
It’s an honor to be chosen by the MGEC Board to fill this role. I look forward to working on behalf of MGEC’s membership.
Tony Kelly