Local 2101 minutes March 6, 2018

Publish Date

LOCAL 2101 MEETING
Meeting Minutes
March 6, 2018

Anderson Bldg. Rooms 2370 & 2380
Lunch: Old World Pizza

Welcome – President Liz Pearson

  • Last Month’s Meeting Minutes – Approved
  • Meeting Agenda – Approved
  • Announcements
    • Sign up for the Facebook group!
    • ERA rally this Thursday at 8:30am. Wear red
    • WV teachers have been on strike for the last 8 days, and this morning all state workers have been approved to have a 5% raise (though it was taken from Medicaid)
    • Keep pressure on the people who represent you!

February 20 Rally Recap

  • Approximately 1100 people attended, including nearly everyone at the meeting
  • Rep. Debra Hilstrom brought contract to the floor the day of the rally and it was laid on the table, where it will stay until it dies or there’s a vote on it
  • HR was good about making sure we had the permission and freedom to attend over lunch
  • Rally photos can be viewed here

MAPE Day on the Hill, March 21 – Nicole Juan

  • Presentation about what to expect on Day on the Hill
  • Meeting in vault room under the rotunda
  • Two hours of paid time for each person who participates- but if you can balance time or have the vacation please do so

Update from our Business Agent – Debbie Prokopf

  • Targeted districts-- please write letters or go to Day on the Hill
  • A couple of people at the meeting are in these districts
  • Get your kids involved!
  • There will be other MAPE people with you when you meet with your reps
  • Why not a strike? State employees are employees of the executive branch, not the legislature. So a strike would be against the Governor and not the legislature
  • Janus case- oral argument last week at the U.S. Supreme Court
    • Went pretty much how we expected
    • Justice Kennedy “swing voter” is solidly in line with the conservatives on this one
    • Janus argument- all collective bargaining is inherently political, it violates the rights of fee payers to contribute (even though they will still benefit from the outcome)
    • Fine line between constitutional argument and political argument- turned into a “political power” argument
    • What is the difference between one v. many? There’s a union involved, a “private outside third party” that “disrupts negotiations.” This is a misrepresentation about what unions are and what they do
    • Decision anticipated in May or June
    • This case is meant to destroy collective bargaining for public employees – WV teacher strike- no collective bargaining rights, legislature decides raises for teachers statewide, no union contract. Collective bargaining can help assuage strikes. We will likely see history repeat itself- more strikes without collective bargaining
    • What can we do as MAPE to mitigate effects of Janus?
      • Ask members to recommit to MAPE now- power in numbers, importance of having each other’s backs
      • Show up! To rallies, meetings, Day on the Hill
      • Door knocking and voting to elect people who will look out for our interests as public employees
      • Help recruit new members- Statewide at 68%, our local is right around the 80% mark
      • We can come out stronger! Don’t be afraid. Small steps lead to big changes

Update about our Strategic Plan from our Regional Director – Marcia Bierschenk

  • What can we do? Work on a plan! Local 2101 strategic plan (in tandem with MAPE state strategic plan)
  • Marcia met with 4 groups, about 25 members total
  • Marcia will compile the information and share with the group
  • Next steps- meet with local leadership team, look at themes, what kinds of things can we do in 2018 and 2019? Can continue to give ideas to Marcia
  • Board of Directors will be working with different locals to try to get members to recommit and recruit new members
  • Class Consolidation Workgroup – Beth Davis
  • Final update from HR went out recently
  • Documents: Class Changes Table, Summary of Events, Workgroup Info
  • MAPE Member Beth Davis has created a workgroup to:
    • Understand how these changes affect our career progressions
    • Examine whether the benefits promised by HR are coming to fruition
    • Evaluate the project- MAPE can help through the workgroup
  • If you’d like to participate, contact Beth Davis

Member Concerns and other Announcements

  • Next MAPE 101- Tuesday, March 26
  • All local officers will be up for election this year- voting is in May, nominations open one month prior
  • Membership drive coming soon- stay tuned!

Gift card winners

  • Jody Smeby, Michelle Spitzmueller, Nancy Schultz, Patricia Dominguez-Mejia

Upcoming meetings.

  • Next Officer’s meeting: Thursday, March 22, 2018, 3-4 pm, 2nd floor tables
  • Next General Meeting: Tuesday, April 10, 2018, 12-1 pm, ELA 2370-80