Also on Tuesday, December 5th, MDH held its quarterly “meet and confer” with the unions who represent its staff. Two of the prominent subjects of the conversation were student loan reimbursements and a potential federal government shutdown. Even though the state of Minnesota has made few-if-any reimbursements for employees’ student loans, it continues to cite them as an employee benefit. And while the state attempted to remove them altogether in their proposals made in the recent round of bargaining, MGEC was able to continue the ability for the state to make loan reimbursements by ... Read More >>
Contract Vote Passes
Dear MGEC Members, Thank you to our Full Members who utilized their opportunity to vote regarding the State’s last offer for a new agreement between the State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Government Engineering Council (MGEC). We asked our membership to vote on it, voter turnout was high, and the results are in! Ballots were sent to all Full Members. Electronic voting took placed between December 6th and December 12th. The membership HAS VOTED TO ACCEPT THE OFFER. What happens next? MGEC will be working with MMB to confirm dates when the new pay rate will be implemented. Then the ... Read More >>
Bargaining Update
We had hoped to be sending out the MGEC summary, redline contract with grids and the ballot. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for the state's compensation department to complete the appendices in the contract that identify what pay range is assigned to each class and the pay grids that list the pay for each step of every range. The board feels it is important to review the documents in their entirety so they can be sure the information provided to you will be accurate. We know you are excited to see the documents and get a written summary. So are we. We hope to begin the voting process ... Read More >>
Two State Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs)
MGEC has been approached by MMB with two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) seeking our agreement. The first MOU is about Sick and Safe Time and the second concerns a potential Federal government shutdown. The Sick and Safe Time MOU brings into alignment gaps in the current contract with the Sick and Safe Time law passed this last session. As you may have heard, the legislature greatly expanded access to paid time off for all public and private employees in the state, guaranteeing time off for illnesses for employees and their families. Because MGEC members already have paid sick time, ... Read More >>
Public Employee Pension Committee Update
The multi-union collation known as the Public Employee Pension Committee (PEPC) met on Friday, September 15th to hear updates and develop an action plan for the upcoming legislative session. The Legislation Commission on Pensions and Retirement (LCPR), which the PEPC informs and is comprised of a bipartisan group of legislators to decide pension issues, has also conducted a meeting in Duluth on October 30th to hear directly from active pension participants as well as retirees. The goal of getting a broad pension bill out of the Legislature is underway. Notwithstanding the fact that it ... Read More >>
2024 MGEC Election Results
The 2024 Election results are in. Changes to the board take effect January 1, 2024 which include: Fernando Nacionales (MDH) ascending from Vice President to President, Corey Mathisen (MDH) becoming Vice President, Wes Leksell (MPCA) as Treasurer. Newly elected Directors include: Jared DeMasters (MnDOT) John Dalton (MnDOT) Bruce Henningsgaard (MPCA) Blake Nelson (MnDOT) ... Read More >>