Michigan Association of Public Employees

Experience, Education, and Expertise

In order to guarantee its members the highest level of employment protection, it is absolutely necessary in today's world, that a public employees' union provide professional representation. Representation founded on professional resources and a broad spectrum of specialized expertise must be readily available, at all times, to all members. In other words, a union must be equipped with complete service capacity and a dedicated staff of skilled professionals who will deliver these services in a timely and effective manner.

Specifically, all members must be provided with representation that wil deliver:

  1. Maximum appropriate financial compensation for the work they perform.
  2. The best possible employment benefits, including pension and medical insurance.
  3. Working conditions maintained at the highest standards.
  4. Protection of all employees' rights, as established by law.
  5. Immediate access to top-quality legal counsel whenever necessary.
  6. Direct availability of professional assistance in matters of financial, insurance and retirement planning.
  7. The strongest possible collective voice in communicating needs, opinions and positions to national and state lawmakers.
  8. A communications program which keeps members fully informed of updates related to the collective bargaining process, including the status of contract negotiations.
  9. A platform which informs the public about the organization's position on issues affecting the membership and/or local associations.
  10. A leadership structure which represents the membership's collective interests and goals in the creation and implementation of the organization's operating policy.

In short, professional representation should include the negotiation and enforcement of contracts, safeguarding of members' rights, assisting members plan their futures and protect their families, providing members with a voice in political matters, and guaranteeing member satisifaction.

The Michigan Association of Public Employees (MAPE) is a full-service public employees union in every sense of the term.