I am and will remain grateful for the opportunity to again serve as the President of the Minnesota Government Engineering Council during 2023. Things have changed immeasurably since I last served. At the turn of the century, most meetings were still in person and as you can see in this dated picture of me preparing for our June 2000 arbitration hearing, almost everything was done using paper. Our work back then seemed more exhausting, but was still well worth it (ie, goodbye to the midpoint of all pay ranges); which is how I feel about our most recent round of negotiations. Although we did not ... Read More >>
Newsletters
Thank you & Best Wishes!
The MGEC Executive Board changes about half its members each year. That allows all members greater opportunity for participation. This year we are saying thanks to the following board members who have provided several years of service. Mary Loeffler (Director 2021-2023), Sam Padleford (Director 2022-2023), Heather Gardner (Treasurer 2023, Director 2020-2021). Thank you for your years of service, recruitment of others and willingness to always put forward your ideas! ... Read More >>
Military Affairs Pizza Lunch
On Tuesday, December 5th, MGEC held a Pizza Lunch at Camp Ripley to meet with our members who work for the Department of Military Affairs. MGEC’s engineering professionals ensure the safe operation and development of the assets of the National Guard across the state, and the opportunity to bring the conversation to Camp Ripley – along with delicious pizza - couldn’t be missed. The visit occurred while the state’s “final offer” was out to a membership vote; the discussion focused on the offer’s details as well as what next steps would look like whether the members voted to accept the ... Read More >>
Department of Health “Meet and Confer”
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 >>
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 >>
MGEC at Metro MnDOT Employee Day
MGEC joined several other unions at a fall Employee Day. This event had been on hold the past several years due to COVID and a shortage of funds. Now the transportation department finds itself with a lot more funds for more projects. The new challenge, finding people to do the work. The State demographer’s presentation continued to report the following: 1) finding workers will continue to be difficult and become more so as future generations will simple have less people, 2) young workers (those in their 20s- 30s) will be the most migratory and seek new and the most flexibility (telework, ... Read More >>