Union Power Project - Education Pillar

Union Education

Every member needs to know who we are, what we stand for, and why their voice matters. Through trainings and one-on-one conversations, we aim to bring in 75% of new hires as members within their first 30 days. We need everyone's support in making these conversations impactful and ongoing.

If you're ready to connect with new colleagues and share the value of membership:

Attend one of the trainings below.
Attend your Local meeting.
Check out other upcoming events.

Learn about our Union Education Series

The MAPE Basics training is designed for anyone represented by MAPE who would like to learn more about our union. You will learn what is different when a union represents you, how a union contract is negotiated, how to have a say in your workplace and more!

Delegate Assembly (DA) Basics is a training in the "Get to Know Our Union" Education Series. DA Basics is designed for anyone represented by MAPE who would like to learn more about DA, which gathers delegates who represent each local every year to vote on important union issues, including the budget, policies, dues and other governing documents.

This training is designed to educate MAPE members about strikes, including what circumstances MAPE could have a strike vote, what would happen during a strike, how members can participate in other unions' strikes and more!

This training is designed for anyone in MAPE who is interested in running for a MAPE elected position. The MAPE fall elections include Local positions, Regional Directors, Statewide Offices and Statewide Committees. Other non-elected committees that have openings will also be covered as a different way to get involved in your union. There will be time for Q&A after the presentation.

PELRA Reading Group

Have you ever wondered why we don’t talk about doing stand-up strikes, rolling strikes or limited-duration strikes? We are regulated under a Minnesota State Statute called the Public Employees Labor Relations Act, and this law limits what we can legally do as a union. Want to learn more about the legal rules we operate under, and talk about how the law influences what actions we can and can’t take (and the grey areas in between)?

Then, sign up for the Union Power Project Education Pillar’s PELRA Reading group! We will be running six discussion sessions, every 2nd Tuesday of the month running from March to August, at 6 p.m. Learn more

Minnesota Paid Leave Info Session

Tuesday, March 17, at 12 p.m.

The Union Power Project Education Pillar is hosting an info session about the newly implemented Minnesota Paid Leave (MPL).

Passed in 2023, the Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave Act allows workers to take up to 20 weeks of leave in a year with partial wage replacement. Employees will be eligible to use up to 12 weeks for a single qualifying event under family or medical leave and allowed to use up to eight additional weeks for the other type of leave in a year. Leave Comparisons

Union Power Project

MAPE has grown to more than 18,000 members, adding 2,500 to our bargaining unit over the last two years alone. However, our membership has only grown by 900, and long-serving members are retiring faster than we can replace them. If we want to keep building our bargaining power and shaping our own future, it's clear that we need a new approach.

The Union Power Project (UPP) is fully funded and ready to drive this change. This investment is a commitment to reach 70% membership by recruiting 1,200 new members in the short term while creating an infrastructure to sustain high levels of membership and activism. Every one of us has a role in building a strong, resilient MAPE, and now is the time to step forward.

The UPP has four pillars including education, organizing, technology and community-building events.

Events