Even with our best efforts to engage with our membership to bring updates and listen to concerns using technology, there is no substitute for in-person engagement. In that spirit, MGEC is continuing its road tour of visiting work sites around the state to bring updates to our membership. More importantly, we are also travelling to listen to members’ concerns and deliver solutions.
Maplewood Materials Lab
On April 16th, we provided lunch and discussion at the Maplewood Materials Testing facility. With approximately 35 MGEC members in attendance, MGEC staff updated the membership about active grievances and had a productive discussion that informs our efforts. Grievances about potential discipline are informative to the membership about how that process works but hearing from our membership their experiences on other topics came up. The Grad 2-to-Senior Engineer job progression difficulties that we hear about, for example, strengthens our ability to refine and defend the contract. The lack of transparency and fairness in that process becomes clear when we hear directly from our membership – we can use these first-person narratives to move our goals forward whether in bargaining for better contract terms or in arbitration. We thank MGEC Representative Blake Nelson for helping to organize the Maplewood event!
Detroit Lakes
On April 24th, MGEC Labor Rep Tony Kelly travelled to Detroit Lakes to hear from approximately 20 MnDOT MGEC members. Members were given an update, and Tony was able to hear what was on members’ minds. Common to both Detroit Lakes and Maplewood is members’ frustrations with being capped in the career progression – particularly Engineering Specialists. We’ve heard from a number of people who are aware of the history of other job titles that have been used in the past but don’t seem to be filled now. Hearing our members’ frustrations in the employer’s lack of responsiveness in career progression helps us carry the message to the employer. THANK YOU to MGEC Representative Lori Vanderhider and members Amber Abraham and Katy Reierson for helping to organize the lunch!
Mankato
And on April 25th, MGEC travelled to Mankato. After the membership update, we heard from a number of people who feel frustrated by knowing that there are job titles above their current ones that could allow their careers to progress, but the employer chooses not to use them. (Sound familiar?) As we heard in Detroit Lakes, this causes folks to feel stuck in their current role – even as their knowledge, skills, and abilities grow. This concern is incredibly common. We advise all of our members to keep their PDs accurate and, when it becomes clear that their work has outgrown their role, ask for a Job Audit under Article 11, Section 5 of the MGEC contract. It also helps to engage your supervisor to enlist their support in the process.
At all three locations we also heard success stories of people who have had their vacation accruals increased by using the new language negotiated into the MGEC contract. Some people have had their vacation accruals nearly doubled. And others didn’t know that they had the option of asking the employer about the increase until the MGEC Pizza Lunch; those folks had their requests approved in less than 2 days!
We are coming to Brainerd and St Paul next! Invitations have been sent to those in the respective areas. We look forward to hearing your concerns and success stories. There’s simply no substitute for face-to-face engagement and it is our goal for each MGEC member to feel