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