MAPE Basics: Same great training with a new name

This past February the Union Power Project (UPP) Education Pillar Team launched MAPE 101, a training designed for anyone represented by MAPE who would like to learn more about our union. After presenting the training twice and asking for feedback from members, the team has taken the suggestion to update the name to MAPE Basics.  

“We initially used the name MAPE 101 because we are planning a series of trainings that would evolve into 201 and 301 that dive deeper into our union and how members can get involved,” explained Meridith Richmond, member of the Education Pillar team. “I shared information about the MAPE 101 at a Local Presidents Committee and some presidents mentioned the name was confusing with Local 101. We thought it was a fair concern and agreed to look into a different name.” 

The training series will now be called Get to Know Your Union and the first training is MAPE Basics. “Our team really likes that the new name helps people understand that MAPE belongs to them, that the union is driven by its members. We are working on creating additional trainings to follow MAPE Basics that will help people understand more about how our union works and how to get involved,” added Leah Shepard, co-chair of the Education Pillar. “We are also working on another series of trainings about the broader context and history of unions, organizing and public service. 

“The first two trainings were well attended with about 50 members at both – exceeding our goal. MAPE’s bargaining unit has grown by more than 2,500 members in the last two years, and due to COVID, we know not everyone was onboarded as fully as we would have liked,” said Lauren Siegel, co-chair of the Education Pillar and Membership Secretary for 2101. “This training is different from the New Employee Orientation (NEO) as the topics are not just for new members, but for any member who wants to learn how a union contract is negotiated, what is different when a union represents you, how to have a say in your workplace and more!” 

The UPP is fully funded and ready to drive this change. This investment is a commitment to reach 70 percent membership by recruiting 1,200 new members in the short term while creating an infrastructure to sustain high levels of membership and activism.  

“I wanted to get involved with the Union Power Project to help grow the strength of our union through its members. I know that growth of the union has positive impacts not only for State of Minnesota workers, but the workers throughout the nation and the world,” Shepard said. “The UPP has four pillars: education, organizing, technology and community-building events. I chose to be part of the education pillar to help MAPE represented workers build a vision for what is possible for us to accomplish and how we can do that together as active members of our union. I hope you come check out one of the pillar meetings and get involved, it has been a lot of fun getting to know other members and working together! And if you are not yet a MAPE member, please join today!” 

MAPE Basics will be held once a month on different days of the week and times to accommodate as many members as possible. The next training will be held on Wednesday, April 30, at 5 p.m. You can find the schedule of the UPP Education Pillar website, as well as, Labor History – a three-part series that Peter Rachleff, co-founder of the Eastside Freedom Library presented to Region 5 as a lunch and learn series.