News & Updates

Welcome to 2026 and thank you for your trust in me as President of MGEC. Thank you to outgoing President Corey Mathisen for his two terms in that role, and all of his service to MGEC! He will continue on the …

According to the latest information from Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB), the back pay from the recently implemented collective bargaining agreement will be paid on February 6th.  …

Minnesota Paid Leave (MPL) now joins the list of other leaves available for new parents, those with health conditions, as well as others who qualify for other uses, such as to take care of other …

Measured as a proportion of members relative to total MnDOT employees, MGEC leads all bargaining units in participation in the Student Loan Reimbursement Program. In the most …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

The voting window for the MGEC membership to affirm or deny the Tentative Agreement between the state and the union has now closed.  The MGEC Teller Committee has met to review the …

MGEC and Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) have reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) on the MGEC contract with the State for July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. Join …

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 …

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 …

The MGEC election cycle is complete and the results are in and certified!  We have deep appreciation for the members who step up to donate their energy to help MGEC in its mission of service to its …

Are you getting the most out of your healthcare dollars?  Open Enrollment is the once-per-year opportunity to make any changes to your healthcare network, providers, as well as to …

Last month, MGEC was made aware of “notice of overpayment” letters going to some of our members threatening legal action if they didn’t “repay” hours of approved work.  As we have advised in …

On Wednesday, October 1st, MGEC resumed its Pizza Lunch series with a visit at the Baxter MnDOT facility.  MGEC members from all state agencies – not just MnDOT – were extended invitations, and …

Bargaining for the 2025-27 labor agreement between the state and MGEC kicked off Tuesday, September 9th with the exchange of proposals from both parties.  The state came to the table with a list of 41 proposals …

Ballots for the election of this year’s MGEC Director and Officer election have been sent to Full MGEC members.  If you have not received a ballot, please reach out to mgec@mgec.org to ensure that we have your …

THANK YOU to the MGEC members who came out to this year’s Annual Meeting and Golf event!  We had a great afternoon of golf as well as a productive annual meeting and dinner.  Results of …

The MGEC Board Election Ballot has been sent to Full Members. Only Full Members are allowed to vote. Voting closes on November 4th, at 4:30 pm. If you are a full member and did not receive the ballot, …

We have heard from a number of MGEC members who have received letters from MnDOT about “overpayments” made when employees worked authorized overtime in pay periods containing a holiday.  These …

Bargaining for the 2025-27 labor agreement between the state and MGEC kicked off Tuesday, September 9th with the exchange of proposals from both parties.  The state came to the table with a list of 41 proposals …

MGEC is powered by its membership, and its Board of Directors is composed of people who work in the state service just like yourself.  We have a deeply committed and active board, and there are opportunities to …

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to the MGEC Annual Golf Tournament! We had 36 MGEC players across 9 teams playing alongside one of our sponsors from WSB! This event would not be possible …

As you’re no doubt aware, the contract between MGEC and the State of Minnesota expired on the last day of June.  While it is always a source of frustration to have a contract expire before a successor labor …

For the past 18 months, the MGEC Board and Membership Committee have reviewed our Constitution and Bylaws to ensure our organization is up-to-date, transparent, and efficient. Full …

Registration is open for both the MGEC Golf Tournament and the MGEC Annual Meeting & Dinner. The Golf Tournament and Annual Meeting & Dinner will be held at the Oak …

On Wednesday, August 13, MGEC met with MnDOT senior leadership in our quarterly meet-and-confer meeting to discuss items of interest.  The first agenda item related to the …

On Monday, August 18, the Joint Labor Management Committee met to learn the details of 2024 and 2025 healthcare spending across the SEGIP plans.  That information is …

The Golf Tournament will be located at Oak Marsh Golf Course in Oakdale, MN which begins with a shotgun-start at 2 pm. Please arrive by 1:30 pm to allow time to check in …

MGEC Officers and staff have met with the Minnesota Office of Management and Budget (MMB) to set up dates and protocols for the negotiation of the next labor agreement.  We share the …

As we covered in last month's newsletter, there is an ongoing issue for some of our “FLSA exempt” members who worked approved overtime that occurred in pay periods that also have a holiday.  The …

Several MnDOT FLSA exempt employees have recently been asked to pay back hours they worked in pay periods that contained both holidays and approved overtime.  While …

If you are participating in the deferred compensation (MNDCP 457b) program, first off, congratulations on taking charge of your financial future!  But you also need to be aware that the …

MnDOT Metro District will be notifying employees in the near future of a new survey process that will assess the current state of the Metro District and inform decision-making as it moves forward.  According …

This is your final reminder to submit your MGEC scholarship applications for the Family Member Scholarships and the Connie Minetor Memorial Scholarship. Applications must be …

As you no doubt have heard, the Minnesota Legislature has adjourned without passing the budget and spending bills required to maintain continuity of service without the risk of layoffs for MGEC members.  …

After over 22 years of service, MGEC Executive Director Dana Wheeler has “sailed” towards retirement.  We wish him well as he moves into the next chapter, and I thank him for …

As a State of Minnesota employee, your healthcare provided through the SEGIP plan is bargained similarly to how the collective bargaining agreement between MGEC and the State is bargained.  But …

Every year, MGEC members are placed into the difficult position of having to lower their vacation balances down to the cap of 275 hours before the start of the next fiscal year, July …

The deadline for MGEC Scholarship and Award nominations is Friday, June 30, 2023, by 5:00 pm. One of the benefits of MGEC membership is an opportunity to receive either …

Thanks to everyone who has provided responses to us about the telework policy update. MGEC and MMB met on April 14 and MGEC shared feedback with MMB to represent the feedback we received from members. We have …

As of this writing, the Department of Health has advised its unions that 233 people are directly impacted by the cancellation of federal grants.  57 of those are contractors who were …

At most state agencies, your seniority lists are available in your local network.  MGEC …

We are aware of emails going around that seem like they could be from MGEC board members or other MGEC people.  They seem to be scraping contact information from our website to engage …

This year’s MGEC Annual Meeting and Golf Event are scheduled for MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22nd.  Like last year, we plan on having a 9-hole golf tournament with a shotgun start at 2pm at Oak Marsh Golf Course in Oakdale, …

The announcement by Governor Walz yesterday about the state’s telework policy changing June 1 to require most state agency employees to work in-person for at least 50% of …

The results of the MGEC membership survey are in!  We are now in the process of collating and analyzing the results to determine what our membership needs.  To those FULL MGEC members who completed the survey, …

Unlike regular contract negotiations where each of the state’s unions negotiates their individual contracts with the State, the healthcare plans offered to employees are negotiated jointly in a …

Do you have someone in your family studying in a STEM field?  MGEC has several scholarships available: the Connie Mentor Memorial Scholarship and the Family Members Scholarship.  Applications opened March 1st, and …

The LPCR held its first meeting of the legislative session on March 11th.  It called itself to order and the State’s pension managers made reports. The State …

Senior leadership at the State of Minnesota, from Minnesota Management and Budget down through the agencies that MGEC members work for, are all reacting and planning for changes that may occur …

The Minnesota office of Management and Budget has changed its policy on insurance coverage that will directly affect employees …

Contract language in the MAPE, MMA, and MGEC contract allows an employee to work part-time but continue to receive a full-time contribution for …

Considering retirement. SEGIP will offer free two hour seminars for employees. Links to dates and registration. Link: https://mn.gov/mmb/segip/retirement/retirement-insurance-seminars.jsp …

MGEC is opening the opportunity to apply for scholarships (Family Member Scholarships and Connie Minetor Memorial Scholarship). Applications will be accepted starting March 1, 2025, and …