Building Steward Leaders in Region 13

MAPE’s updated Steward Retreat 2.0 has emphasized the importance of building steward leaders, a message that Region 13 and its four locals have embraced wholeheartedly. Over the past two years, Locals 1301, 1302, 1303 and 1304 not only held their own local steward meetings every month but also convened virtually as a region.  

At their Region 13 steward retreat in May, stewards decided to rotate hosting the monthly steward meetings to foster greater engagement and collaboration. Local 1304 hosted the inaugural meeting focusing on “just cause,” a legal term referring to a valid reason for terminating an employee. 

“We learned to leverage technology during our Covid-19 experience. It’s not that difficult to get together once a month and share information. Everyone has upped their skills. Across a region, everyone feels isolated. Being able to reach out online makes a huge difference,” said Local 1304 Steward Jim Brennan, the Learning Management System manager at Minneapolis College.  

“I have become more knowledgeable from these monthly meetings. Otherwise, I would just be learning from my mistakes,” Brennan joked. “We’ll be a stronger union if we have more stewards communicating well and sharing their experiences.” 

Brennan highlighted the benefits of hosting meetings, “You take ownership of the meeting and are more involved and more members show up. The last meeting was on the features of just cause. We used a case study where a grievance had been filed. We talked about how the contract would apply and why the standards of just cause had not been met. It was a great discussion and people seemed very involved and interested, so we will continue the discussion next time we meet.”    

Region 13 is one of MAPE’s largest regions stretching from Cambridge beyond Shakopee and Delano in the west to Mounds View in the east. It includes multiple agencies and many Minnesota State campuses.  

At the Region 13 steward retreat, it was also decided to assign two stewards to each case, creating valuable training opportunities. “More experienced stewards were over-committed to cases and the less experienced ones needed the exposure. We are teaching and sharing information, helping each other,” said Region 13 Co-Steward Director Uyanga Bayandalai, a release planner for the Department of Corrections Sex Offender program in Lino Lakes. 

"I see and feel more togetherness, more engagement and more cooperation among our stewards. Taking turns to lead shows their willingness to help, share and be there for members," Bayandalai added. 

MAPE Vice President Angie Halseth recently attended one of the virtual Region 13 steward meetings and was impressed. “With the expansiveness of that region, the fact they have come together collectively in a tough region to navigate is inspiring. It is harder to do this with four locals and multiple agencies, and seeing them building their team was wonderful,” Halseth said.