Frontline Worker Bonuses Expected Soon

More than one million Minnesota frontline workers will soon receive $487 payments for the work they did to keep Minnesotans safe during the pandemic. Local 1102’s Brian MacNeill is one of them.

MacNeill is a behavior analyst with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. Minnesota has six veterans homes; he works at the one in Minneapolis. “When our facility was in quarantine, when family and friends could not visit the veterans, we were there to hold their hands, to reassure them that we will get through this pandemic, that they are not alone. We admire their military service and how much they sacrificed,” MacNeill said. 

“Throughout the ongoing pandemic, frontline workers have continued to work in person to keep this state going, through the alpha, delta and various omicron variants of COVID-19. It is truly wonderful for frontline workers to be recognized and rewarded for their efforts,” MacNeill added.

MAPE is proud to have been one of the original members of the Essential Workers Taskforce which fought for bonuses for frontline workers. MAPE worked with other unions and partners to increase the original $250 million allocated to $500 million for the frontline workers. The organizations were able to persuade House legislative leaders to further increase funding for those workers who put themselves at risk to keep others safe, but Senate leadership could not be convinced to increase funding.