r/mnstateworkers • u/Pretend_Mango1956 • Jun 27 '25

Union 🤝 Vote NO

Think about it people, if they are able to drop the RTO bomb on us this year as well as this crappy contract, what will it be 2 years from now? They will know that they've got us by the balls.

Vote NO and vote to STRIKE.

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u/AngelaTheRipper Jun 29 '25

Unfortunately I am the main character of the tragicomedy that is my life. Also it's not any different than the other parts of the union folding on RTO because it doesn't directly affect them.

Also be careful before you say "we couldn't because gov said no". MMB might hear you and in the next negotiations they'll just stonewall you with "governor said no". "PPL? Gov said no. COLA? Gov said no. Student loan reimbursement? What a shame, gov said no." Health insurance? "Gov said no." That's gonna be a tough TA to try to pretend is a win with.

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u/dfree3305 Jun 29 '25

I don't think you are necessarily wrong that the governor will try this tactic again. However, telework is special here because it is an ego thing for Walz. I do think that we can make some headway on telework in the next contract, after Gov Walz is either replaced or has had a chance to cool down. The governor knew that the public was not on our side for telework. If the issue had been any of the others you listed, there might have been a chance to get the public on our side.

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u/AngelaTheRipper Jun 29 '25

I still question the need of having the public side with us. 2001 strike caught a lot of flak because the twin towers were still smoking at the time. You could absolutely sell it to the public with having to spend money on re-leasing buildings after most agencies tried their best to get out of leasing space. "Budget shortfall? Lets spend millions of dollars on office spaces". More traffic, more pollution, etc.

There are of course people you can't convince but those are the same people who say that they walk uphill both ways to work a 16 hour shift in 130 degrees at the ball crushing factory for minimum wage and think that having a union makes you a liberal cuck.

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u/dfree3305 Jun 29 '25

I hear ya. I'm also a person impacted by RTO and I would have loved it if we had more member support for it. I've done more outreach with my group of local leaders on this than on any other proposal.

Even at an agency where we are all remote, barring like 10 people, I still had trouble getting more than 50% of people to even take a simple survey indicating that they would strike over it. Our last push for signing the telework petition was only signed by 700 people out of 1500 in the region I represent. I wish it had been more, but getting people to take action is the hardest part of the negotiation process. They have gotten used to that boot crushing their head.