Each year when the new board begins, they evaluate the committee list and decide which committees they feel they need. As a full member, you have an opportunity to be part of the committee and make recommendations to the board. Listed below are the committees for 2023. If you are a full member and would like to be on a committee, email us with the committee you would like to join at Mgec@mgec.org. Committees will be meeting in February. Membership – Recruiting, benefits, scholarships, awards, promotional items, communication (newsletter & website), database, communication program, ... Read More >>
President’s Message
Here we are wrapping up the first month of 2023! Last year marked 30 years with the State of Minnesota for me. I had the opportunity to serve the MGEC membership very early in my young career and look forward to having the chance to do it again in this leadership role with much more experience. My two main goals as MGEC President are 1) working to involve the individual committees within MGEC to make sure membership’s concerns are being accurately brought to and represented at our Board of Directors’ meetings, and 2) working to retain the talent our state employees provide by focusing on ... Read More >>
2023 MGEC Board
MGEC is powered by its membership. Our strength at the bargaining table comes from those who choose to be members. But the team that steps to the next level are those elected to the Executive Board. Serving in terms that are on a staggered cycle, the newest group of leadership began their terms January 1st, 2023. Charged with setting the direction of MGEC, this group brings the energy and ideas of those who work in the public service to the bargaining table. Elections are held every year for the staggered seats. While individuals often have different perspectives, through democratic ... Read More >>
Public Employee Pension Committee (PEPC)
On Friday, the 13th, members of the Public Employees’ Pension Commission (PEPC) group convened to discuss the upcoming legislative session in hopes that they can lobby the legislature to pass a comprehensive pension bill. Present were the Directors of PERA and MSRS. Attorney Brian Rice has been communicating to key legislators that a comprehensive pension bill is long past due, given the sacrifices that state employees have made over the last decade that have resulted in Minnesota being lower than average with respect to public funding of public pensions. Whereas the fund directors were ... Read More >>
Insurance Bargaining
Health insurance for State of Minnesota employees is collectively bargained. But unlike regular contract bargaining where each bargaining unit negotiates its own package, our healthcare is bargained as a coalition of all unions working together. The first step is for the unions to put together our proposal. A series of meetings for the unions to accomplish this is planned late winter. With bargaining taking place during April through June. It’s too soon to have a clear sense of what the exact proposals will be, but MGEC approaches both regular contract bargaining and health insurance ... Read More >>
IRS Mileage Increases
Article 19, section 2 of MGEC’s contract with the state ties eligible mileage reimbursement rates to the federal IRS rate. As we are all keenly aware, transportation costs have increased, and the IRS has reflected some of that increase by raising the standard mileage rate by 3¢ to 65¢ per mile. When a State-owned vehicle is offered and declined by the employee, the Agency or designee shall authorize that mileage be paid at the rate of seven (7) cents less than the IRS mileage rate. The higher rate may be a paid if the use of the motor pool vehicle would have resulted in a greater cost to the ... Read More >>