Local 2101 minutes Feb. 13, 2018

Publish Date

LOCAL 2101 MEETING
Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2018

Anderson Bldg. Rooms 2370 & 2380
Lunch: Sui Yep Cafe

Welcome – President Liz Pearson

  • Last Month’s Meeting Minutes – Approved
  • Meeting Agenda – Approved
  • Announcements
    • Contract Rally at the Capitol: first day of session, Tuesday, February 20. Leave ELA at 12:00pm and be back by 1:00pm
    • Sign-making party for rally: this Thursday, February 15, 4:30-6:00pm at Key’s Café on Robert St. in the back room
      • Make signs for the contract rally and socialize with other MAPE members!
    • Working People’s Day of Action: Saturday, February 24, 10:30am-1:30pm in the Capitol Rotunda
    • MAPE Day on the Hill: Wednesday, March 21
    • MAPE 101: Tuesday, February 27, 12:00-1:00pm, ELA 2360

Donation Request for the Minnesota Women’s Consortium event: Girls Rock the Capitol – Nicole Juan (Marcia Bierschenk spoke on her behalf)

  • Event is for high school girls statewide, focusing on girls of color
  • Goal is to raise awareness of the importance of being involved in the political process
  • Free for girls to attend
  • Donation of $500 requested- money will go towards logistics, transportation, and meals
  • Motion to approve the donation was made and seconded and passed unanimously

Presentation from MAPE’s new Executive Director – Lina Jamoul

  • Lina has been in her position for about three months- she talked about her background and experience
  • Union value- organizing people to come together to hold power accountable- that is what’s at stake and what’s being challenged in the current political climate and with Janus v. AFSCME
  • Our contract is not just about raises and health insurance, but about respect and democracy
    • Rule of many v. rule of few: Thousands of state workers voted on the contract, small group/committee voted it down
    • We need people to show up to the contract rally- large numbers of people have a greater impact
  • Think about a time you experienced or witnessed an injustice and what did you do about it? Subcommittee on Employee Relations voting no to our contract is an injustice
  • We need cumulative action to be effective- this is the time we’re in and we’re going to be in this time for awhile, so we need to stay committed!

MAPE Contract Rally

  • Michelle Doheny
    • February 20 Rally at the Capitol, 12pm – 1pm
    • We are MAPE when we are together- we only have power when we come together and take action- this is bigger than just our contract
    • We have to show that doing our work with good wages and benefits and job security is important and we care about it- no one else is going to fight for our contract but us
    • HR sent a letter to managers encouraging them to be flexible so we can attend
    • Register on the 2nd floor of ELA before you leave
    • Program will take place from 12:15-12:30pm
  • Liz Pearson
    • St. Paul Teachers got their contract passed!
    • Minnesota was just named #1 Best Run State in the Union- we deserve our contract!
  • Debbie Prokopf
    • We know what will happen if we don’t show up to the rally
    • Rally is a test for us to show that we can come together and organize
      • We need to show the legislature that people will also show up to the ballot boxes in November
      • Karla Bigham won the special election in Senate District 54
        • Recognition of MAPE members who showed up to doorknock- MAPE’s presence was noticed!

Member Concerns and Other Announcements – Liz Pearson

  • Final letters about the class consolidation project are going out this week
    • Please contact a MAPE officer or steward before you make any decisions- you do not have to make a decision alone!
  • Johanna Schussler, who was going to speak to us about the Statewide Sexual Harassment Policy, has left her position and did not identify someone else to speak in her stead

Gift card winners

  • Richard Judge, Nacole Lind, Ibitoru Afonya, Long Nguyen

Upcoming meetings.

  • Next Officer’s meeting: Thursday, February 22, 2018, 3-4 pm, 2nd floor tables
  • Next General Meeting: Tuesday, March 6, 2018, 12-1 pm, ELA 2370-80, NOTE: This is the FIRST Tuesday