Update on Workforce Recruitment and Retention Legislation

May 7th, 2008

Governor’s Changed Position

On April 18th, 2008, Gov. Pawlenty reneged on his promise to MAPE by issuing a document titled “Supplemental Budget Concerns” and listing “Compensation Increase Provisions” as one of his concerns.  The Governor referred to our workforce planning and retention legislation as a “compensation increase” and stated, “These provisions will require that compensation rates be set without consideration of market conditions and will increase compensation budgets, making it more difficult for agencies to absorb operating cuts.”  It’s hard to believe that the Governor does not know that the state’s own Hay ratings actually consider market conditions.  It’s even harder to believe that this provision is beyond what an agency can absorb.  We are already seeing agencies post jobs, conduct interviews, and repost the job even longer due to the inability to hire a qualified applicant.  The average vacancy already takes the state 8-10 weeks to fill.  Its MAPE employees who will be burdened with the increased workload due in part to agencies inability to fill positions based on the looming staff turnover.  Ask yourself where the salary savings money is going.

The Governor failed to mention a few things in his supplemental budget concerns.  First, Gov. Pawlenty fails to mention the major workforce transition that Minnesota will soon be experiencing with the large percentage of retirement eligible state employees.  Many of his appointed Commissioners and the state’s Demographer have expressed concerns in various committees over the inability to retain and recruit state employees. These issues will lead to more state vacancies than ever before.  Secondly, Gov. Pawlenty failed to mention that this bill would actually help him resolve the issues that caused him to issue an Executive Order.  The Gov. and his staff are well aware that this provision will eliminate a longstanding inequitable provision in statute as well as salary compression that will help state agencies recruit and retain qualified employees in the very near future.

Current Status of the bill:

On Wednesday, April 30, 2008, the workforce planning and retention legislation was amended into S.F. 3190 authored by Sen. Ann Rest.  S.F. 3190 was amended to include some policy provisions that the Senate has taken a position on.  The original bill, S.F. 3190, is the blood donation bill allowing state employees up to three hours of annual paid blood donation leave.

On Thursday, May 1st, S.F. 3190 was heard and passed on the Senate floor where Sen. Jungbauer made a failed attempt to remove it from the bill.   Within hours, Rep. Gene Pelowski had it removed from that same bill behind closed doors.

Our legislation was removed from the deficit bill ,H.F. 1812, at the time it was put into the policy bill of S.F. 3190.  When the state government portion of the deficit bill was conferenced last Friday our legislation was not include.  Effective Friday, May 2nd, our legislation no longer existed in any bill.

On Sunday night at 11:55, Rep. Lyn Carlson relinquished his Chair position and made a motion to amend the legislation back into H.F. 1812.  That motion passed and the legislation currently exists there at this moment. 

Where could it go from here?

With only eleven  more calendar days to pass a bill, Leadership from both the House of Representatives and the Senate will be  negotiating bills including H.F. 1812, the tax bill, several remaining policy bills, and a few controversial bonding requests with the Governor’s staff.  Our provision is just one of a fairly long list of legislation the Governor does not want passed.  I would encourage all MAPE employees to use the TeamMAPE web site to send the prepared letter to the Governor urging him to support the workforce planning and retention legislation.  If the Governor supports this legislation, we will have a great chance of getting the language into law.

If you have questions feel free to contact myself of Political Affairs Coordinator Kendal Killian at any time.

Richard Kolodziejski
MAPE Legislative Affairs Director   

Governor Pawlenty now opposes Workforce Planning?

With 30% of all state employees on the verge or retirement, Minnesota is about to experience a major workforce transition. Despite issuing an Executive Order outlining the urgency of this issue, Governor Pawlenty has indicated that he may not support a workforce planning solution provision this session.

Click here: Contact Governor Pawlenty and ask him to support workforce planning!

MAPE supports a provision in HF 1812 that would help the state prepare for this shift by saving money on employee turnover, retaining knowledgeable state employees beyond the date they are eligible to retire, and encourage long term employees to extend their service, aiding the training of new employees.

Despite issuing an executive order drawing attention to the seriousness of this issue, Governor Pawlenty recently included the workforce planning provision in a statement related to "concerns" he has with the current budget bill.

Click here:  Contact Governor Pawlenty and ask him to support workforce planning! 

MAPE Member wins national delegate spot

MAPE member Ann Hill, Local 1101, has been elected to attend the Democratic National Convention this August in Denver. Hill has pledged to support Senator Barack Obama for President at the convention. 

Hill, an Ombudsperson for families, lives in South Minneapolis. She was elected at the 5th Congressional District DFL Convention. 

Becoming a delegate the Democratic National Convention is very difficult. Out of more than 200,000 caucus attendees state-wide, only 72 elected delegates will be chosen to the attend the DNC.

Hill is a union steward for MAPE and a member of the DFL State Central Committee. In 2006 she spent considerable time volunteering for State Senator Patricia Torres Ray and Congressman Keith Ellison. She is a founding member of the Major Taylor Bike Club of Minnesota and a member of the Women of African Descent Giving Circle.

“The most exciting part of this was to work with all the great people from varied backgrounds that helped me accomplish my goal,” she said.

Hill campaigned vigorously in the weeks leading up the convention. After being elected a delegate to the State and Congressional District Convention at the Senate District level, she attended numerous other conventions to meet her fellow delegates. She mailed a letter to all 210 delegates to the convention. She also called them personally to earn their support.

“My hard work paid off,” she said.

She says she supports Senator Obama because he has the leadership skills needed to address issues like the economy, the environment, and health care.

“I like his grass roots approach to leading our country. He is listening to the people and not to big money Federal PACs and K Street lobbyists. He is pulling together a diverse coalition of people. He is motivating parts of the citizenry that have become apathetic.”

The Democratic National Convention will take place August 25th-28th in Denver. The Republican convention will be in St Paul September 1st-4th.  National labor unions are split in their support of Senator Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton. MAPE does not endorse in Presidential elections.

Governor signs MAPE's contract

Governor signs MAPE's contract

House File 3138, including the MAPE contract, was signed by Governor Tim Pawlenty on Thursday. This marks the final hurdle for the 2007-2009 MAPE contract – it’s now officially approved.

This process began more than a year ago with the MAPE Negotiations Team surveying members about what they would like included in the contact. During the 2007 legislative session, Team MAPE, supported by more than 5,000 member-to-legislator contacts, was successful in earning a salary supplement, providing additional money for state employee salaries. 

The contract was agreed upon last summer in the final hours of “push week.” It was then passed by the MAPE Board of Directors, supported by 89 percent of voting members and signed by members of the Pawlenty administration.

In August, MAPE’s contract was implemented following unanimous approval by the Legislative Coordinating Commission Subcommittee on Employee Relations. Last fall, MAPE members received backpay going back to July 1st, as compensation for the time when the contract was not yet in place.
 

The 2007-2009 MAPE contract includes two 3.25 percent across-the-board pay hikes, one for each year of the biennium. It also includes an innovative prescription drug plan that will save money for both employees and the state. 
 

Passage of the MAPE contract was MAPE’s No. 1 legislative priority for 2008. Contract passage will give MAPE members peace of mind knowing that our collectively bargained benefits, like health care, will not be in jeopardy.

The bill containing the MAPE contract was authored by state Rep. Karla Bigham. The state Senate companion bill was authored by Senate President Jim Metzen.

Thank you to members of Team MAPE who attended Day on the Hill and contacted your legislators regarding this important issue. 

Omnibus State Budget Bill Conferees Named

House file 1812 is an Omnibus State Budget Bill. Versions of the bill have passed both the House and Senate. Now it will be sent to a conference committee to work out the differences. Tuesday April 8th the legislators that will sit on that converence committee were named. They are Representatives Carlson, Rukavina, M.Murphy, Ozment, and Wagenius and Senators

Cohen, Tomassoni, Fredrickson, Higgins, and Betzold.

Please contact these legislators and ask them to keep our Workforce Planning provision in the bill. Use this link to contact your legislators: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/workforceplanning.

More info:

The bill is 376 pages in length and includes appropriations for multiple state agencies as well as provisions relating to health care and higher education. The specific measure in the bill MAPE is most interested in relates to Workforce Planning and Retention.

Why is this so important?

With 30% of all state employees on the verge or retirement, Minnesota is about to experience a major workforce transition. This provision will help the state prepare for this shift by saving money on employee turnover, retaining knowledgeable state employees beyond the date they are eligible to retire, and encourage long term employees to extend their service, aiding the training of new employees.

March Political Report

Day on the Hill 2008 - A “highly successful” and “well organized” event

More than 120 Team MAPE members participated in the annual MAPE Day on the Hill event Wednesday March 12^th at the Capitol. Members heard from influential speakers including Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, House Majority Leader Tony Sertich. MAPE members utilized Day on the Hill to lobby their legislators to support early passage of the MAPE contract (SF 2620 - HF 3138) and workforce planning and retention legislation (SF 2736 – HF 3095) which aims to ease the impending workforce transition.

In an email following the event, MAPE First Vice President Andy Bindman remarked that it was a “highly successful” and “well organized” event. Please join us next year for MAPE Day on the Hill!

Team MAPE Action Training - May 30th/31st

MAPE will once again be working Erik Peterson from Wellstone to implement an Team training May 30^th and 31^st to be held at MAPE HQ in Shoreview. This training is based on the Camp Wellstone model and is an excellent entry point into legislative and political involvement. Registration will begin later this month.   

 

New Team MAPE PAC Board Members

Three new MAPE members have been added to the MAPE PAC board. They are: Sheila Scott, Molly Macgregor and Mark Proctor. Thank you to all that applied!

• Sheila Scott is comes from Local 602. She works as a staff attorney in the Department of Human Rights. Sheila lives in District 58A in North Minneapolis where she has served as precinct chair for more years then she cares to remember.
• Molly Macgregor is a member of Local 1502 and lives in District 4B in Walker. She currently serves as treasurer of her local party unit and as a volunteer campaign manager on a campaign for State House. Molly also worked on Dave Durenberger’s first campaign for US Senate in 1978.
• Mark Proctor is a member of Local 201 and lives in Bloomington (District 40B). In 2006, Mark volunteered 10 to 15 hours a week in support of MAPE PAC endorsed candidate, and now Senator, John Doll.

 
2008 MAPE Early Endorsements

The MAPE PAC board met earlier this year to determine 2008 “early endorsements.” Over 60 labor-friendly legislators met Team MAPE’s auto-endorse criteria for the 2008 election cycle. These elected officials deserve thanks for helping us achieve our recent legislative successes, including the passage of the salary supplement last year, and for their on-going support of professional public employees. Team MAPE will work to ensure these incumbents are reelected this fall. A few may even face primary challenges. To see the list, visit TeamMAPE.org.

2008 "Early Endorsements"

The MAPE PAC board met recently to determine “early endorsements.” Over 60 labor-friendly legislators met Team MAPE’s auto-endorse criteria for the 2008 election cycle. These elected officials deserve thanks from MAPE for their on-going support of professional public employees.

The 2007 session was one of the most successful in MAPE’s twenty-five year history. With your help, we attained at 3% biennial salary supplement that lead to a 3.25% across-the-board pay increase earned at the negotiations table. In addition, we passed anti-outsourcing legislation that will prevent the privatization of crucial state services. These legislators helped make those successes possible.

This year, MAPE will be working to get our contract passed as quickly as possibly. We will also be pushing workforce planning and retention legislation to assist the state in preparing for looming workforces changes.

What does it mean to earn “early endorsement?” Legislators who achieve this status have:

• Been endorsed by Team MAPE in the past
• Voted in support of MAPE issues
• Maintained a high labor vote ranking
• Demonstrated support of public employees

The Team MAPE endorsement includes mailings to members in specific districts, as well as volunteer and contribution assistance when available. Please support these MAPE friendly legislators at your caucuses and party conventions, and throughout 2008!

Office	First	Last	District
Representative	Tom	Anzelc	3	A
Representative	Joe	Atkins	39	B
Representative	Karla	Bigham	57	A
Representative	David	Bly	25	B
Representative	Kathy	Brynaert	23	B
Representative	Lyn	Carlson	45	B
Representative	Karen	Clark	61	A
Representative	Jim	Davnie	62	A
Representative	David	Dill	6	A
Representative	Augustine Willie	Dominguez	58	B
Representative	Al	Doty	12	B
Representative	Kent	Eken	2	A
Representative	Patti	Fritz	26	B
Representative	Rick	Hansen	39	A
Representative	Alice	Hausman	67	B
Representative	Debra	Hilstrom	46	B
Representative	Bill	Hilty	8	A
Representative	Frank	Hornstein	60	B
Representative	Melissa	Hortman	47	B
Representative	Tom	Huntley	7	A
Representative	Mike	Jaros	7	B
Representative	Sheldon	Johnson	67	B
Representative	Al	Juhnke	13	B
Representative	Phyllis	Kahn	59	B
Representative	Jeremy	Kalin	17	B
Representative	Margaret Anderson	Kelliher	60	A
Representative	Katherine	Knuth	50	B
Representative	Lyle	Koenen	20	B
Representative	Carolyn	Laine	50	A
Representative	Ann	Lenczewski	40	B
Representative	John	Lesch	66	A
Representative	Tina	Liebling	30	A
Representative	Bernie	Lieder	1	B
Representative	Leon	Lillie	55	A
Representative	Diane	Loeffler	59	A
Representative	Shelley	Madore	37	A
Representative	Tim	Mahoney	67	A
Representative	Carlos	Mariani	66	B
Representative	Paul	Marquart	9	B
Representative	Sandy	Masin	38	A
Representative	Frank	Moe	4	A
Representative	Terry	Morrow	23	A
Representative	Joe	Mullery	58	A
Representative	Erin	Murphy	64	A
Representative	Mary	Murphy	6	B
Representative	Mike	Nelson	46	A
Representative	Michael	Paymar	65	B
Representative	Aaron	Peterson	20	A
Representative	Sandy	Peterson	45	A
Representative	Tom	Rukavina	5	A
Representative	Brita	Sailer	2	B
Representative	Tony	Sertich	5	B
Representative	Steve	Simon	44	A
Representative	Nora	Slawik	55	B
Representative	Linda	Slocum	64	B
Representative	Loren	Solberg	3	B
Representative	Cy	Thao	65	A
Representative	Paul	Thissen	63	A
Representative	Tom	Tillberry	51	B
Representative	Ken	Tschumper	31	B
Representative	Jean	Wagenius	63	B
Representative	John	Ward	12	A
Representative	Ryan	Winkler	44	B

Team MAPE will continue it's endorsment process in June. Only candidates for State Representative were endorsed at this time. The Minnesota Senate is not up for election until 2010. For more information please contact Kendal Killian at kkillian@mape.org.

Legislative Report - January

Legislative and Political Affairs Communication
MAPE staff have put together a plan to coordinate communication between the membership and legislature regarding the passage of our 2007 – 2009 collective bargaining agreement and workforce planning and retention legislation.  As the legislative session approaches and after it begins, I would encourage all Locals to invite Team MAPE staff to speak at their Local meetings regarding the importance member participation has during this upcoming legislative session.  We will do our best to accommodate as many Locals as possible.

Passing the 2007 – 2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement
Beginning on January 14th, the Team MAPE website will direct its focus on communication to legislators to pass the MAPE contract.  As far back as most of us can remember, this process is completed on the last day of the legislative session after ironing out all the issues that get picked up along the way.  Remember, we negotiated with the Governor’s team.  The Governor and his team, our membership, and the Legislative Coordinating Commission have overwhelmingly agreed upon the terms we’ve negotiated.  There is no reason not to immediately pass our contract so the MAPE staff and membership can focus their attention and efforts on other beneficial legislation for the membership.  We need every MAPE employee’s help in contacting their legislator and encouraging them to push for early passage of the MAPE contract.

• Click here to contact your legislator ask ask them to support "early passage" of the MAPE contract: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/contract

Legislative Update – Workforce Planning and Retention Legislation
As we reported in November, our state’s workforce is on the verge of a major transformation. Approximately 30 percent of all state employees are eligible for retirement in the next three years and nearly 50 percent of the remaining workforce is eligible to retire in the following five years. At the same time, as Governor Pawlenty has acknowledged, the number of available skilled workers in Minnesota will concurrently decrease.

MAPE is working on legislation that will address these challenges. Currently, the state of Minnesota analyzes positions to determine proper compensation levels using a system known as the Hay study.  By requiring the state, through legislation, to base compensation on this system, the state will save money on employee turnover, retain knowledgeable state employees beyond the date they are eligible to retire, and assist in having long term employees present to help train new employees.

This will be a major initiative in the upcoming session. MAPE has already met and will continue to meet with leadership and legislators from both the House and Senate regarding proposed Hay legislation.  In the upcoming session, it will be a major undertaking to educate and convince both the Governor and legislature that state employees need to be compensated appropriately across the board, not compensated at the arbitrary discretion of their agency.  More information will be e-mailed out and posted on the Team MAPE website as the Feb. 12 start date for the 2008 legislative session approaches.

Workforce Planning Facts:

• 30% of all state employees are eligible for retirement in the next 3 years.
• Nearly 50% of the remaining workforce is eligible to retire in the following 5 years.
• Over 7,000 MAPE employees are compensated one to five steps below their Hay determined compensation level.
• Over 70% of all newly hired MAPE employees in the past two years have been hired at step three of the pay grids or above, proving that current compensation determinants are inadequate. 

Day on the Hill
MAPE Day on the Hill will be Wednesday March 12th.  Reminders and instructions to sign up will be going out in mid January.  Remember if this is a member’s first time, we will schedule legislative meetings with other constituents or staff.

Click here to register for MAPE Day on the Hill: http://www.teammape.org/reghill.html

In solidarity,

Richard Kolodziejski
MAPE Legislative Affairs Director

Political Affairs Report - January

2008 Precinct Caucuses
In Iowa on January 3rd, nearly 350,000 people participated in that state’s “first in the nation” caucuses, making it by far the most heavily attended in history.  Here in Minnesota, we will get our turn on Tuesday February 5th. Coined “Super Duper Tuesday,” approximately 24 primaries and caucuses will be held on that day nation-wide. 

Precinct caucuses provide a tremendous gateway into grass-roots politics for MAPE members. Caucus training will be held on January 29th, 7:00pm at MAPE. Caucus training materials are available for distribution in your regions by contact Kendal Killian at kkillian@mape.org. Team MAPE will also be distributing caucus resolutions supporting MAPE legislative priorities to bring to your caucus. For more information, please visit TeamMAPE.org.

• Click here to register for caucus training: http://www.teammape.org/regcaucus.html
• Click here to sign the "I will caucus" pledge: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/TeamMAPEcaucus

Happy New Year: Priority #1 – Keep the House majority!
What is Team MAPE’s New Year’s resolution? To maintain a friendly majority in the Minnesota House! MAPE has about 90 members in the House that we can count on to support of MAPE legislation. Because of the high number of supportive incumbents, our 2008 campaign strategy will be focused mostly on “defense,” defending the seats of vulnerable legislators. MAPE will work deliberately to organize members in key districts in support of these candidates.

Special Election- Senate District 25
January 3rd a Special Election was held in Senate District 25 to replace Senator-turned-judge Thomas Neuville. Education Minnesota member Kevin Dahle, buoyed by strong support in the city of Northfield, cruised to a 55% to 42% victory over prevailing wage opponent Ray Cox. With the addition of Senator-Elect Dahle, the DFL Senate Caucus now controls a veto-proof majority in the 67 seat body. 

MAPE PAC
At their final 2007 meeting, the MAPE PAC chose Cathleen Cotter as the next MAPE PAC Chair. Cathleen is an experienced political activist and a recent graduate of the Center for Advocacy and Political Leadership at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She was also a delegate to her party’s state convention in 2006. The PAC will meet later in January to fill vacant board positions, finalize the 2008 budget and discuss the endorsement process.

MAPE Action Team Training
As you know, MAPE held two intense grass-roots political trainings in 2007, preparing over 30 participants success in their legislative and political organizing efforts. MAPE staff is working with Erik Peterson of Wellstone Action to plan more training opportunities this year. These trainings are set for May 30th and 31st and September 5th and 6th. Formal registration will begin in April.

In solidarity,

Kendal Killian   
MAPE Political Affairs Coordinator

MAPE PAC to fill three board vacancies

The MAPE PAC currently has three vacancies that to be filled at the January meeting. Please contact MAPE Political Affairs Coordinator Kendal Killian at kkillian@mape.org for an application. Applications are due December 31st.

Applications will be evaluated based on experience, expressed commitment to the MAPE PAC and geographic diversity.