Supplemental Bargaining Updates

As part of contract negotiations, MAPE has the ability to conduct “Supplemental Bargaining” at the agency level to negotiate contract language specific to an agency. For example, DNR has specific language about topics related to wildland fire. You can check out DNR’s current supplemental agreements on PDF page 226 of the 2023-2025 MAPE Contract: https://mape.org/contract. Bargaining that affects all agencies happens at the main negotiations table with representatives from various agencies fighting for a fair contract for you.

Supplemental bargaining negotiations between DNR management and MAPE-DNR Meet and Confer concluded May 31. Management brought two proposals that included technical changes to existing language. MAPE brought eight proposals, including increasing uniform allotments, clarifying language so all staff have access to necessary safety equipment (fire boots), codifying language regarding on call pay on a holiday, counting all hours worked for the purposes of overtime during emergency response, the R and R day MOU that was won last negotiations cycle and more. Only a few of these proposals were tentatively accepted or adjusted. Tentatively accepted proposals are subject to final approval at the main bargaining table.

The proposals that were adopted are highlighted below.

Uniforms

MAPE Proposal: Increase annual uniform allowance to $750 for full-time staff and $450 for seasonal staff (currently $150 for full-time staff and $90 for seasonal staff) and modify language to make all seasonal staff eligible, not just seasonal naturalists.

Outcome:  Management agreed to an allotment increase to $260 for full-time staff and $165 for seasonal staff. Management also accepted the language change so that all seasonal staff are eligible not just seasonal naturalists.

Fire Boots

MAPE Proposal: During 2023 supplemental bargaining, we agreed to language supporting the Department’s reimbursement of fire boots as safety footwear. Communications with HR were clear there should be no distinction between suppression and prescribed burn activities. Both activities have tasks that require staff to utilize a variety of safety boots depending on their assigned role (from steel toe to fire to chainsaw boots). Our mission is to ensure all staff who perform wildland fire activities are provided fire boots as specialty safety footwear as outlined in the policy on safety footwear.

MAPE proposed the following:

• Address FAW memo citing crushing as the largest risk to staff working a Rx burn. Rather, this should be evaluated on a staff-by-staff basis based on their primary role during a burn, e.g., staff operating a drip torch should have fire boots.
• Modify safety footwear policy using the following adjustments: strike-out the term “suppression” and substitute “wildland fire.”

Outcome: Management will take this back to the policy committee to make this and additional changes at the discretion of the policy holders. Management saw no issue with removing suppression language and adopting wildland fire language.

R&R Day MOU

MAPE Proposal:  Renew MOU regarding paid R & R Days and make it permanent.  MAPE also proposed that employees would be eligible for of up to three (3) paid R & R days off after completion of a fourteen (14) day or more federal assignment and to modify language to include in-state federal fire assignments. Additionally, proposed language that would allow MAPE employees to use accrued vacation or comp time for up to two (2) R & R days, without reducing overtime earned, after completion of a fourteen (14) day or more in-state DNR jurisdiction assignment.

Outcome: Management agreed to include paid R & R days in permanent supplemental contract language but only agreed to up to two (2) paid R and R days after a fourteen (14) day or more assignment. Management did not agree to MAPE’s proposals related to in-state federal or DNR jurisdiction assignments.

On-call Pay on a Holiday

MAPE Proposal: Modify supplemental language to add clarification that 24-hours of on-call pay is in addition to Holiday pay.

Outcome: HR agreed to add clarifying language.

Overtime compensation for DNR MAPE Non-exempt and Exempt Employees for wildland fire and other emergency work

MAPE Proposal: Modify supplemental language regarding hours of work and overtime for fire fighting and other emergency response to allow all paid vacation, paid holidays, paid sick leave, paid comp time, and paid leaves of absence to be considered as “time worked” for MAPE employees in both exempt and non-exempt FLSA status.

Outcome: Management agreed to modify language to include in-state emergency response. Management did not agree to modify language to all paid leave to be considered as “time worked”, stating that they feel those changes are best addressed at main table bargaining.

SUPPORT overtime contract language by signing the letter of support:

Letter of Support for Fair Overtime Compensation and “Time Worked” Language