Region 15 kicks off contract listening sessions

Phased retirement, reimbursement for required licenses and certification, telework and additional steps at the top of the pay scale were just some of the ideas Region 15 members had during recent listening sessions and visits in Park Rapids, Detroit Lakes, Moorhead, Thief River Falls, Roseau and Bemidji.

Members brought their ideas to the right people: Region 15 Negotiations Representative Brad Berce, Region 15 Director Bryan Kotta, Statewide Vice President Angie Halseth and Contract Action Team Lead Brent Mason. "We had the MAPE team there for that region: I was able to hand out my card and tell them 'If you have issues, contact me.' There was nothing we would have had to outsource from these meetings because all the decision-makers were there," Region 15 Negotiations Representative Brad Berce said.

In addition, Berce and Region 15 Director Bryan Kotta are both stewards.

One of the top themes at the listening session in Moorhead was licensures and certifications. Members Rita Lall, Monica Schneider and Matthew Benjamin discussed with Brent Mason having to pay for licenses and certification renewals required for their jobs. Benjamin, an accountant for Minnesota State, said his supervisors want him to get a C.P.A. but don't want to pay for it.

"States that require employees to have specific professional licenses, I believe, have a responsibility to either pay for it or at least share the cost," Berce said.

Region 15 is one of MAPE's largest: it covers Moorhead to Bemidji, north to the border and the northwest corner of the state. The region contains 23 agencies, 48 cities and many colleges and universities. The region includes 640 employees represented by MAPE.

"The right to telework is a big concern on our campus. It depends on who your supervisor is. Every one of these individuals did their work remotely not too long ago during the pandemic," Benjamin added.

There were questions about remote versus telework status, and the financial impact the state of Minnesota puts on greater Minnesota workers when they assign them to central metro offices. Member Kristi Halvarson, who works for the Department of Human Services, lives in Fargo and attended the listening session in Moorhead for an opportunity to participate in an in-person meeting, although she technically is assigned to work in St. Paul. When she has to travel to St. Paul for meetings, she must pay for some of her own travel costs, "If I were a remote worker instead of a teleworker, I wouldn't have to deal with the rigamarole of getting reimbursed for travel expenses."

"There's an inherent fairness involved, and liability, too. If you're telling employees they have to drive 240 miles there and another 240 miles back home - it becomes a fatigue issue and a safety issue. When it comes to remote work and telework status, it's like the State is throwing things at a dart board instead of having a firm policy," Berce said. "We need to take a look at this in negotiations."

A smaller listening session took place at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls where the conversation involved wages and benefits. Between the listening sessions, leaders also met with Department of Corrections members in Thief River Falls and Roseau.

All Negotiations Representatives will be holding listening sessions in their regions - plan to attend one so you can discuss what you'd like to see in the 2025-2027 contract and what it will take to win the contract we deserve.

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