“Just recently, I received an email from my agency’s advocate office “inviting” me to attend a mandatory disciplinary meeting via MS Teams. Of course, the invite was very clandestine and devoid of any explanation or information as to the nature of this meeting.
The advocate office had mis-categorized me as a non-manager, so I went ahead and attended the meeting. As soon as the meeting started, I disclosed that I was indeed a manager and was there with no representation. I was told that representation was not required, but certainly was my right. I shut-down the meeting pending contacting the MEA.
Having been the unfortunate recipient of a bogus EEO complaint against myself many years prior, and having to retain a labor attorney at $550/hr (at my cost) to protect my career, I knew the intrinsic value of having a professional on my side, protecting my interests, my reputation, my career, and my pension.
I reached out to the MEA, told them what was happening, and was provided with the contact info for the MEA Counsel. After speaking with Counsel, I reached out to the advocate’s office and provided them with MEA Counsel’s name and contact info.
Five months later, that disciplinary meeting finally did occur, this time with MEA Counsel being part of it. Fortunately, the resolution of this disciplinary hearing was favorable to myself, and I suppose acceptable for the advocate. The MEA Counsel was professional, experienced, understanding, and great at his profession. The folks at MEA are also amazing and extremely helpful.
Look folks, the takeaway from all of this is: If you are NOT a dues-paying member of the MEA…..you really, REALLY need to “get on board” and become a member.
Remember that prior bogus complaint that I mentioned? Yeah, well….that cost me $5500 out of my own pocket to defend myself.
For the cost of a couple of cups of Starbucks coffee every paycheck, I was represented by MEA Counsel….and so can you, when it happens to you. Not IF it happens, but WHEN it happens.
Additionally, there are so many other benefits that are available to MEA members…but, you have to be a member. You are doing yourself a dis-service by NOT becoming and being a MEMBER.
Do it now….don’t wait.”
~Anonymous
MEA member
