MAPE’s first Meet and Confer Summit a hit

MAPE held its first-ever Meet and Confer Summit last week in Minneapolis to much acclaim. Seventy Meet and Confer Committee members, six breakout sessions, two plenary sessions and one keynote speaker were some of the elements contributing to the successful union event.  

“The Meet and Confer Summit gave me more ambition and strength. Marcia Howard’s keynote gave me the energy to come back up and fight. I loved her unity message and reminder until we finish the contract, ‘it’s all gas and no brake.’ The people are with us and don’t get distracted,” Statewide Department of Transportation Meet and Confer Chair Gabe Perkins said.  

Members had the opportunity to participate in two of six breakout sessions including Workload Meet and Confers, Supplemental Bargaining Workshop, Committee Planning 101, Classifications 101, Organizing as a Meet and Confer Team, and Stewards and Meet and Confer Teamwork. 

Minneapolis Federation of Educators President Marcia Howard gave an inspiring keynote on the importance of workers knowing their worth and demanding what they deserve during negotiations. “There is union power in this room. We are so much more powerful because we are in a union. The powers that be know this. You make this state run. They know that and you know that. They can try to do this without you, but they can’t. You have to believe you have the power. And know in the end you’re prepared to withhold what you provide to the state. You don’t just stay no matter how you get treated. You have to get ready to strike,” Howard said.  

“MAPE shows up on our lines and we’re going to show up for you. This is the Minnesota model. You have to organize. It’s a campaign and you have a finite time to get organized,” she added. 

Maureen Dunaway, chair of the Meet and Confer Chairs, pointed out that Howard’s speech was about understanding people are going to try to write your story for you and you can’t let them. “Sometimes people worry about what people think of us. It was an important message to hear as we go into difficult negotiations. We are not ‘greedy public workers.’ We’re people who do a great job for the people of Minnesota and are owed compensation and to be treated decently about Return to Office and not have our health care stripped from us. This is something that is due to us – and that doesn’t make us ‘greedy.’” 

Dunaway and Business Agent Adam Novotny closed the summit with the second plenary session with an escalation exercise on How to Hold Management Accountable. 

Perkins said he was using knowledge he learned from the Meet and Confer organizing breakout to prepare for a meeting with senior management. “It was the right summit at the right time and with the right people,” he added.