While 2026 is not an active bargaining year for MGEC, that doesn’t mean we’re not active! We are highly involved in several grievances ranging from disciplinary issues to the ongoing FLSA-exempt issue where the state seems to insist that our members work for no compensation. Guided by our Board and Advocacy Committee, it is important that we never drop the ball defending your rights under the MGEC contract. We expect some of these issues to go all the way to arbitration. There is no such thing as the “status quo” in labor relations, and we must remain vigilant to protect what we have. ... Read More >>
Activity/Organization updates
MGEC Pizza Lunch: Rochester
On Thursday, December 4th, about 20 MGEC members met with Interim Executive Director Tony Kelly and MGEC Representative Mark Trogstad-Issacson. Over pizza, details of the new labor agreement between MGEC and the state were discussed, and some other topics came up in a way that otherwise might not have if there wasn’t delicious pizza and face-to-face interaction. Most of the members were from the DOT, but we did have a member come from the Board of Water and Soil Resources! Members had questions about the nature of this year’s negotiations and sought context around the board’s decision to ... Read More >>
Backpay Update
The details from Minnesota Management and Budget regarding backpay from the new contract are known. The mass salary update will be loaded into the payroll system the weekend of 1/16, and the new compensation rates including retro pay will then be reflected on the February 6th MGEC is concerned about the length of time to get this information from MMB, but we will communicate any additional information as it becomes available. ... Read More >>
President’s Message
Greetings MGEC members, I want to start off by saying THANK YOU to our current Board and staff. I've had the pleasure of serving with so many fantastic people this year. Our Board has a wide range of experiences and each person brings significant value to our organization. Our staff (Tony and Donna) truly care about MGEC and our members. Having a staff of only 2 people poses its challenges, but Tony and Donna go above and beyond on a daily basis to continue to improve MGEC. I'm proud to be a member of MGEC because of you all! 2025 was definitely a busy year of transition for MGEC. ... Read More >>
2025-2027 Bargaining Update – TA Reached
After five bargaining sessions comprising forty hours of face-to-face interaction at the bargaining table (and countless hours preparing for bargaining), MGEC and the State of Minnesota have reached a Tentative Agreement (the “TA”). As of this writing, the state just sent us the “redline” of the new contract that will be the precise language that you will see in the final contract, if approved by the MGEC membership. We are currently reviewing the redline. This is a frustrating but critical step in the negotiation process: too many times, in previous bargaining cycles, language items that we ... Read More >>
Meet Your Bargaining Team
The people who comprise the bargaining team are your peers – they work at the state as engineering professionals and bring their experiences to the bargaining table. There’s no substitute for directly sharing the experience of living under a contract and telling those experiences directly to the employer. These MGEC members have donated considerable energy to pursue the best possible contract. This year’s team includes: Corey Mathisen, President Benton Campbell, Vice-President Carroll Aasen, Director John Dalton, Director Jared DeMaster, Treasurer Blake Nelson, ... Read More >>