Winning a fair contract begins with caucuses: Members prepare for next week’s primary caucuses
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What will four members, four different locals and one Senate District have in common next week? They’ll all be part of the 2026 primary caucuses on Feb. 3.
Local 1002’s Jackie Blagsvedt, Local 301’s Charity Fretty, Local 2101’s Rachel Salzwedel and Local 401’s Michael Yost met recently to plan for their MAPE showing at the Senate District 39 caucus meeting. The meeting took place at a snowy Silverwood Park in St. Anthony 10 days ago.
The group’s goal was to make plans for MAPE to show up powerfully through the caucus and convention process. Only one of them had attended a caucus before and that had been 20 years ago! “We’re energized to get working class agendas at the top of the party platform, advocate for working people and strong and sustained government services and infrastructure,” Blagsvedt said.
The group went through their Senate District 39 list and each claimed 50 or so members to reach out to and invite to attend the caucus. “It was fun to see familiar names on our lists who we knew through community and working for the State, and just as exciting to have brand new connections to grow while sharing our MAPE solidarity. We practiced scripts and discussed strategies for recruiting at least 40 more members to accompany us to the caucuses on Feb. 3,” Blagsvedt said.
Fretty said the group is making progress on the lists. “I’ve never been to a caucus before, and I’m fired up and ready to give it a shot! I’ve also been inviting my neighbors and they’re excited to attend,” she added.