The time is now to join your Organizing and Political Councils

MAPE’s Organizing Council and Political Council are always looking for committed members to help carry out the union’s organizing and political goals and you now have two ways to make your mark: through election or appointment. 

Each of the councils has five elected positions and two appointed positions. This fall’s statewide elections will include three positions on the Political Council and two on the Organizing Council. Nominations are now open and close on Oct. 6. To nominate yourself or someone else, email: swelect@mape.org. Voting will be open Dec. 5-15.   

Appointments are made by MAPE’s president, with recommendations by the chairs of the Organizing and Political Councils. MAPE’s Board of Directors must approve all appointments.  

According to Political Council Chair John Ferrara, the charter for the Political Council requires certain representation, including members from Greater Minnesota and the Political Action Committee’s Board of Directors. “It’s important to us to make sure the Council looks like MAPE. The Political Council statewide officer positions have a lot of responsibility. When we are trying to fill these positions, sometimes we reach out directly to the regional directors and other leaders for ideas,” Ferrara said. “We are looking for leaders who have been active with the union, have proven union organizing, helped on a political campaign, have door knocked or phone banked or participated in political conventions.” 

Ferrara noted the Political Council is the only statewide body that doesn’t have a corresponding local officer position, such as president, vice president, treasurer or membership secretary. The Council is launching a pilot program to add a community engagement officer position to each local. “We’re hoping this position will create a larger pool of candidates that can be on the Council. This position will be broader than just turning out the vote in elections.”    

He added, “While we just got the largest raise in MAPE’s history, other unions are bringing larger coalitions to the Capitol, and they’re knocking on more doors. The negotiations table is the end of that thread. We desperately need more of our members to be engaged. We’re not asking members to be partisan – we’re asking them to support things that make our contract work.  

“We want to finish some of the things we started at the Legislature this year. Some members are interested in climate change, others may be interested in housing or health care. These issues may not directly impact our contract, but housing costs and health care costs all affect your wallet. There is more to getting a good contract than getting a good COLA,” Ferrara said.   

Organizing Council Chair Lauren Siegel said the Organizing Council has developed a rubric tied to the type of work the Council is responsible for to recommend to the statewide president individuals for appointed positions, “Organizing Council members have some experience with creating a workplace campaign, did membership recruitment or have held leadership positions involved with building power. Ideally, candidates have some of these skills and a track record to lead because we do trainings and other things for organizing.”  

She said upcoming council events include a “friendly competition for locals to do membership blitzes around retro-payday on Oct. 6. Membership blitzes will continue through November, and those membership numbers will also be counted.”  

Locals participating in the “friendly competition” will have the opportunity to win a catered meal for the leaders and members who participated along with some MAPE swag.