Negotiators Discuss Budget, Workplace Flexibility and Mutual Aid

During their Oct. 22-23 session, the Negotiations Team received an update on the current state budget forecasts from MAPE’s Legislative and Political Affairs staff. The budget looks challenging. Although state revenues continue to perform better than expected, rising costs in education, health and human services create a projected $3.1 billion future budget imbalance. 

It is important for Minnesota to generate new sources of revenue without creating additional burdens on families already struggling to pay bills. Governor-elect Amy Klobuchar has said she will not increase taxes when she takes office in January. MAPE expects she will publish her proposal for a balanced budget in February. 

Region 6 Negotiator Julia Tindell gave a presentation on mutual aid and how to encourage our MAPE community to grow our work supporting each other through collaboration and coordination. To date, MAPE’s mutual aid work has included more than 2,500 donations of household items and food to families affected by ICE in Minneapolis and those affected by the wildfires in northern Minnesota this past summer. Tindell said she is hoping negotiators can help scale up the union’s mutual aid work.  

MAPE’s Negotiations team members continue assessing proposals as they gear up for contract meetings with Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) next spring. “Members are listening to each other and trying to merge all of the different ideas,” Negotiations Committee Co-Chair Sean McIntyre said.  

Proposals have been guided by the feedback gathered in listening sessions across every local and throughout the state as well as responses to MAPE’s membership survey. Overwhelmingly, all locals have ranked healthcare and wages as their top issues. Many locals also felt strongly about workplace flexibility and safety protections, restrictions around artificial intelligence and job security going into a tough budget year.  

“During this session we had great discussions about metro and Greater Minnesota issues including workplace flexibility and how to support longevity through issues specifically impacting longtime employees,” Negotiations Co-Chair Carly Michaud said.  

The Negotiations Team will next meet Nov. 19-20 to continue working on proposals gathered from across the state and crafting MAPE’s opening offer.   

2027-2029 Contract Negotiators 

Region 1: Katrina Hopkins; Region 2: Charles Dixon; Region 3: Em Tschann; Region 4: Cara Hofreiter; Region 5: Kristin Loomer; Region 6: Julia Tindell; Region 7: Carly Michaud; Region 8: Jerry Schmitt; Region 9: Leo Caravello; Region 10: Austin Bork; Region 11: Sean McIntyre; Region 12: Jessica Thompson; Region 13: LeAnn Santana; Region 14: Chris Watkins; Region 15: Brad Berce; Region 16: Brian Mason; Region 17: Jaime Wuori; Region 18: Russell Derickson, Region 19: Christi Berry; Region 20: Gabe Perkins and Region 21: Chris J. Smith. At-Large Members: Elise Chambers, Brent Mason and Monica McDaniel.