Our Platform – YourMPEA

YourMPEA is committed to building an engaged membership and a functioning organization so that we enter contract negotiations with the best possible bargaining position.

YourMPEA endorsed candidates support the following measures for improving our Union:

Equitable Engagement: Cultivating an inviting space to engage union members and thoughtful recruitment of new employees to join the union. This includes:

-Creating an Engagement Committee
-Hosting office hours to hear directly from union members and hold open conversations about the union and membership
-Attending new employee orientation to greet new employees and following-up with new recruits
-Person-to-person conversations about the Union and membership with existing employees
-Union stewards in each department and working with other unions to better working conditions for all City employees
-Member socials and events to build camaraderie among one another.
-Allowing members the opportunity to join committees
-Providing a member list to dues-paying members to connect with other members

Transparency: Ensuring information is easily accessible to all union members. This includes:

-Monthly newsletters outlining activities and updates
-Access to financial documents and bylaws to dues-paying members
-Clear and timely minutes and a professional website with a member portal to access Union information
-Holding quarterly all-member meetings
-Open Board meetings to dues-paying members

Best Practices: Ensuring that the union is functioning and following all rules and regulations. This includes:

-Creating formal policies and procedures for grievances, conflict of interest, and financials
-Providing an annual report to dues-paying members to outline the inputs, outputs, and activities of the Union
-Creating a finance and elections committee
-Creating a grievance committee

Organizing for a stronger contract: Contract negotiations begin in 2025, which means that the union is poised to strongly advocate for all union members to have:

-More PTO
-Floating holidays
-Lowering the probationary period for new employees
-Increased salary and benefits
-Easier salary negotiations for new and promoted employees
-Informing and empowering members throughout the negotiation process with the goal of achieving broad member support
-Solidarity with other Unions for better wages/benefits/working conditions across the entire City

Protections for members: Providing resources and training to members to empower them in the workplace, especially in a grievance or discipline. This includes:

-Organizing and publishing resources regarding grievances, discipline, and salary studies for members to reference
-Providing training on grievances, arbitration, and discipline to empower members in the workplace
-Partner with outside organizations to provide expert advice and training to the MPEA Board and members
-Strong protections against retaliation and unfair terminations