Donna Blackwell

MGEC has confirmed the afternoon of September 26th for the Annual Meeting/Dinner & Golf Tournament. (More details coming soon) ... Read More >>

Bemidji Lunch Event On May 22nd, Labor Rep Tony Kelly facilitated an MGEC Lunch at MnDOT’s facility in Bemidji.  Members were able to enjoy lunch and receive a face-to-face update of what is happening with their union.  More importantly, members were able to ask questions and get answers. Even though this isn’t a bargaining year, the subject of bargaining was on members’ minds.  Understanding the bargaining process and tactics to advocate for priorities was the theme of the conversation. Direct experiences were shared by senior members who have been at bargaining table many times, ... Read More >>

MGEC had so many agenda items for the May 1st Meet and Confer with the DOT that we had to schedule a second meeting!  The topics covered in both meeting included an update on the student loan reimbursement program (which has gone “live” at the agency), whether the agency has the staff it needs to do its work, and communications from frustrated members who have their Grad 2-to-Senior Engineer reallocations held up by the employer with no explanation. With respect to the student loan reimbursement program, a communication went out from MDH on May 28th announcing the application period is now ... Read More >>

Friendly reminder to submit your MGEC scholarship applications for the Family Member Scholarships and the Connie Minetor Memorial Scholarship. Applications must be received by MGEC no later than 5:00 pm on June 30, 2024. Winners will be decided by the MGEC Membership Committee in July with announcement in August. MGEC, at their discretion, may award up to $4,000 each calendar year for scholarships, distributed amongst any number of qualified applicants for the Family Member and Connie Minetor Memorial Scholarships. For the MGEC Family Member Scholarship, MGEC will now accept applications ... Read More >>

The physical exam is an essential part of any doctor's visit. Surprisingly, though, there are no absolutes in a routine physical. A good doctor may be thorough or brief, but they will spend time listening to your concerns and providing counseling for your particular complaints and risk factors. (WebMD - https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/annual-physical-examinations) Have you ever gone in for a medical office visit expecting that there wouldn’t be a charge because it was a “preventative” appointment, such as your annual physical, but then been charged for the meeting? It’s become ... Read More >>

The Minnesota Department of Health changed the Fair Labor Standards Act status of approximately 14 MGEC-represented employees from “exempt” to “non-exempt”, effective the pay period beginning May 8th.  This change allows affected employees more rights under federal law about how their time is compensated and is part of a larger effort at the agency that has resulted in changed FLSA statuses for over 100 employees. For non-exempt employees, all hours that are spent in service of the employer are strictly compensable hours. If hours are worked, they need to be recorded in time sheets – and ... Read More >>