Members Praise Work of Region 6 Co-Steward Director

Stewards are the backbone of any union, offering guidance and representation to members who need support. MAPE’s Regional Steward Directors help coordinate this work across each region, sharing their knowledge, mentoring stewards and assisting with arbitration cases. For the past year, Catherine Okoneski has served as a Co-Regional Steward Director, and members say her impact is clear.

Okoneski has worked for the Department of Commerce for seven years. “I joined MAPE on the spot! I’m a proud member of Local 601,” she said. “My dad was in a union his whole career, so I knew how important membership was.”

Over two years years ago, Okoneski found herself needing help from a steward. The experience inspired her to get involved. “I saw what stewards do—the resources they offer and how they help members work through issues. I knew I could do that too,” she said. “I signed up for MAPE Basics and since then have taken every steward training I can.”

One year ago, she stepped into the Region 6 Co-Regional Steward Director role alongside Mary Heim.

“Mary has been an incredible teacher,” Okoneski shared. “I’ve shadowed her and used her as a role model. With her guidance, I feel I’ve become pretty successful at representing people.” As a Co-Regional Steward Director, she now focuses on supporting other stewards rather than taking most cases herself. “In Region 6, we’re fortunate to have more than 20 trained and very active stewards.”

Regional Steward Directors also serve on the Employee Rights Committee (ERC), chaired by Vice President Angie Halseth. Halseth noted, “I received a message from a MAPE member saying Catherine advised them on a recent employment situation and that she was kind, responsive, thoughtful and incredibly supportive. I wholeheartedly agree. In just two and a half years, she has gone from a brand-new steward to representing her region on the ERC, moving from student to teacher and sharing what she’s learned.”

“It’s meaningful work, and I try to do right by people,” Okoneski said. “Some cases are tougher than others, and some agencies have more challenges, but it’s all rewarding.”

She encourages others to get involved in MAPE. “I’ve been bitten by the MAPE bug; I love it,” she said. “When someone tells me they’re unhappy with the contract or think we should have fought harder, I ask how involved they are. Some say, ‘I pay dues, so I shouldn’t have to do anything else,’ but that’s not how it works. A union thrives when we all participate. It took me three years of paying dues before I jumped in. Becoming a member is just step one; then find out how you can help.”