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Quarterly NewsletterPosted July 11th, 2025
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Legislative Report - July 2025
Posted July 11th, 2025
The Michigan House and Senate have rolled past their self-imposed July 1 deadline to agree on a budget for the 2025-6 fiscal year that begins on October 1. The current plan is for key legislative leaders to continue to negotiate over the School Aid Budget and the Omnibus Budget over the summer, but the general consensus in Lansing is that an agreement will not likely be reached until September. There is a serious concern about a possible government shutdown if the Michigan Legislature fails to reach a deal by October 1.
Meanwhile, the ongoing saga relating to a number of bills from last session that have yet to be presented to Governor Whitmer continues. Despite a ruling in the Michigan Court of Claims declaring that Michigan Speaker of the House must present bills passed last session to the Governor for her signature, the Michigan House has continued to refuse to comply. That legal case is ongoing.
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OPEIU Announces New Union College Benefit Websites!
Posted June 23rd, 2025
OPEIU has announced new user friendly websites for the discount college benefit.
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MAGE Scholarship and Student Debt Reduction Application Period Now Open!
Posted June 2nd, 2025
MAGE Scholarships and Student Debt Reduction awards in the amount of $1,000 are awarded in September each year. Please read on for a link to the application. The application period is June 1 through the last weekday of August each year. Read More >>
2025 OPEIU Student Debt Reduction Program
Posted April 3rd, 2025
The application period for the 2025 OPEIU Student Debt Reduction Program is now open! The application deadline is June 30, 2025. Read More >>
Legislative Report - March 2025
Posted March 21st, 2025
Despite a slow start in January, the Michigan Legislature is back up to full speed as House and Senate committees are hitting their stride. In addition to policy work being done by standing committees, we are also in the middle of budget season so the Legislature’s workload is exceedingly high. Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) has stated that the budget process could go well into September this year, which creates a fear of a possible government shutdown should an agreement not be reached by October 1. Read More >>
The 2025 OPEIU Scholarship Application Period is Now Open!
Posted January 31st, 2025
Enclosed in this article are links to the 2025 OPEIU Scholarship applications, rules and regulations. Please note that the applications must be completed through the links provided. Any incomplete applications will be disqualified immediately. Read on for the link to the applications.Read More >>
Important Legislative Update: Hybrid Pension Program
Posted December 23rd, 2024
The 2023-4 Legislative Session has for all practical purposes come to a close. The session wrapped up with a meltdown in the Michigan House and a record-setting marathon session in the Michigan Senate. Before closing the books on the two-year session, the Michigan Legislature sent several pieces of legislation to the Governor that will have a major impact on state employees. These include changes to the unemployment system, PA 152 (the so-called “80/20” law), and an opportunity for some state workers to opt into the State Police Retirement System. Read More >>
Coordinated Compensation Update
Posted December 12th, 2024
As the holiday season has approached, we have been busy wrapping up the Coordinated Compensation Process for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. As a result of this year’s negotiations, the following has been approved for NERE Compensation. A 3% base wage increase, an increase in longevity which will double your longevity payments received, and funding of the Professional Development Fund in the amount of $225,000.Read More >>
2024 MAGE Scholarship and Student Debt Reduction Winners
Posted October 16th, 2024
MAGE is excited to announce the 4 winners of the 2024 MAGE Scholarship and Student Debt Reduction awards! Read More >>
Legislative Report October 2024
Posted October 8th, 2024
Lansing has been a virtual ghost town since the August 6 primary as House members have used the summer recess to campaign for reelection. The House held session on September 25 where they did take action on several bills, but it is likely that this will be the only House session day until after the election. The Senate could possibly meet for one or more days between now and November, but both chambers seem to be waiting for the Lame Duck session before they act on further legislation.Read More >>
MAGE District Director Highlighted for Hispanic Heritage Month
Posted October 2nd, 2024
MAGE District 6 Director, John Roy Castillo, was highlighted on by OPEIU for his contributions to fighting for workers in the community! Visit the MAGE Facebook page to see more!
MAGE District 6 Meeting
Posted July 10th, 2024
MAGE District 6 Officers will be hosting a meeting on August 8, 2024. See the attached flyer for detailed information including RSVP instructions!
We hope to see you there! Read More >>
July 2024 Legislative Report
Posted July 9th, 2024
The Michigan Legislature has recessed for summer after a frantic few days of session at the end of June. So far this year, the legislative calendar has been abbreviated due to a number of reasons including vacancies in the House and occasional absences of members. With the slimmest of majorities in both the Michigan House and the Michigan Senate, Democratic leadership has had their hands full trying to ensure 100% attendance, let alone secure votes to pass controversial legislation. This November, Republican House members will be pushing hard to recapture the majority in the House, while Democrats are working to maintain their lead.
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CSR-MI Lobby Day
Posted May 23rd, 2024
On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, MAGE representatives Peter Neu and Alyssa Chrisman met with legislators and advocated for enhanced retirement, health care, and pension rights for State employees. Read More >>
2024 Romeo Corbeil/Gilles Beauregard Scholarship Application Period Extended!
Posted April 3rd, 2024
OPEIU is again accepting applications for the Romeo Corbeil/Gilles Beauregard Summer Camp scholarship! Read More >>
April 2024 Legislative Report
Posted March 25th, 2024
The Michigan Legislature, after a very fast-paced 2023, has perceptibly reduced the number of bills passing back and forth between chambers in 2024. This is primarily due to the 54-54 partisan split in the Michigan House (with two vacancies). It is also partially related to a larger focus on budget priorities as the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees begin their work building the 2024-5 state budget. We expect the pace to slowly start picking up again as we move through the budget process, and especially when the vacant House seats are filled after an April special election.Read More >>
2024 Benefits for Life Open Enrollment
Posted March 7th, 2024
The Benefits for Life open enrollment is March 11 - 29, 2024. Click "read more" to review information regarding the 2024 plans. Read More >>
Commission Meeting Update: $2,250 Bonus
Posted February 7th, 2024
MAGE President, Alan Quattrin testified today at the Civil Service Commission Meeting to continue to advocate for NERE's to receive the $2,250 bonus. This bonus was approved today! Read more for a message from the President. Read More >>
Legislative Report - December 2023
Posted December 8th, 2023
On November 14, the Michigan House and Senate adjourned for the year, making it the earliest “sine die” in decades. It did not come as a surprise, as rumors of an early adjournment have been swirling in Lansing since before the summer recess. However, it is certainly a unique event, making the remainder of the year much quieter in the Capitol than is usual.Read More >>
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Posted November 22nd, 2023
Wishing all of our members and their families a Happy Thanksgiving! Benefits Open Enrollment
Posted October 18th, 2023
Benefits open enrollment for State of Michigan Employees is now open! The enrollment period runs from October 16, 2023 through November 6, 2023. Follow the link for more information. Read More >>
Meet the 2023 MAGE Scholarship Winners!
Posted October 16th, 2023
MAGE is excited to announce that four scholarships were awarded to students this year. Read on for more information about the winners! Read More >>
Legislative Report September 2023
Posted September 26th, 2023
The Michigan Legislature has returned from its summer recess and traditionally would be in session for the rest of the year. This year, however, there are rumors that the Legislature could adjourn for the year as early as November or even late October. The impetus for an early adjournment would be to start the 90 day clock on the effective date of legislation earlier than the usual late December adjournment. This could allow controversial items such as moving up the Presidential Primary to February and various tax reductions to take effect in January or February rather than the usual March or April.Read More >>
Happy Labor Day Weekend
Posted September 1st, 2023
Wishing all of our members a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend! New Discounted College Benefit!
Posted July 25th, 2023
OPEIU has announced a new Discounted College Benefit available to members and their families. Read on for more! Read More >>
Legislative Report July 2023
Posted July 5th, 2023
This week the Michigan Legislature completed work on the Fiscal Year 2023-4 state budget. This process began in February when Governor Whitmer issued her budget proposal, and ended on June 28 when the House and Senate sent their final budget bills to the Governor for her approval. The Governor has two weeks to issue line-item vetoes if there is funding that she opposes. However, because this year the House and Senate are led by Governor’s political party, it is not expected that many line-item vetoes will occur – if any. Read More >>
May 2023 Health Care Committee Documents
Posted May 31st, 2023
MAGE Labor Representative and Legal Counsel Peter Neu attended this months Health Care Committee meeting with OSE. Updates regarding the State dental plans and paid parental leave were discussed.
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The MAGE Quarterly Report
Posted April 7th, 2023
We are excited to announce a new MAGE newsletter, The Quarterly Report! This newsletter will be posted at the beginning of each quarter. Visit the "Newsletter" tab at the top of the screen to see the latest version! Read More >>
Vote Now for the OPEIU Triennial Convention Delegates
Posted March 23rd, 2023
It is time to Vote for delegates to the OPEIU Triennial Convention June 10-16 2023. Read More >>
MAGE Membership Drive
Posted March 31st, 2023
We are excited to announce a new membership drive that will give you all a chance to win up to $500!Read More >>
Legislative Report - March 2023
Posted March 24th, 2023
From one point of view, it has been a slow start to the 2023-4 Legislative session. Many House and Senate committees are only now beginning to take up legislation, and the House and Senate have missed several session days due to weather, illnesses, and a tragedy at Michigan State University. On the other hand, the Michigan Legislature has already sent several bills to the Governor’s desk, including a supplemental bill which marked the first time a bill became a public act in the first month of a session since 1947. The Governor delivered her State of the State address in late January and presented her budget proposal in early February, and the Legislature has continuously increased its pace of passing large packages of legislation since then. Read More >>
29th OPEIU Triennial Convention Notice of Nominations/Elections
Posted March 6th, 2023
It is time to submit nomination forms for Delegates to the upcoming 29th OPEIU Triennial Convention. The convention will run from June 10 through June 16, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Read More >>
Legislative Report January 2023
Posted January 27th, 2023
On Wednesday, January 11, the first Democratic “trifecta” opened the new session. Though legislative leadership was actually elected in November, 2022, after the elections, the opening votes of the 102nd legislature made official Michigan’s first woman elected to the post of Senate Majority Leader (Winnie Brinks, D - Grand Rapids), and Michigan’s first Black Speaker of the House (Representative Joe Tate, D - Detroit). The greater Lansing region is also experiencing a quite a spike in influence, as Governor Whitmer, the Senate Appropriations Chair (Senator Sarah Anthony, D - Lansing), the House Appropriations Chair (Representative Angela Witwer, D - Grand Ledge), and the Senate Majority Floor Leader (Senator Sam Singh, D - East Lansing) are all from the Lansing area.Read More >>
Congratulations to the 2022 MAGE Scholarship Winners
Posted November 1st, 2022
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2022 MAGE Scholarship and Student Debt Reduction Awards. Every year MAGE offers our members and their families a chance to be awarded a $1,000 scholarship or student debt reduction award. Applications are accepted beginning June 1st through the last weekday of August every year. These awards help ease a small portion of the financial burden that is tied to higher education. MAGE wishes all recipients of this year’s scholarships and student debt reduction awards the best on their future endeavors. Read on to learn a little bit about our 2022 award winners! It pays to belong! Read More >>
Dues Reauthorization Reminder
Posted September 15th, 2022
MAGE members are not required to reauthorize their payroll dues deductions. Please read on for more information. Read More >>
Important Compensation Update
Posted July 25th, 2022
Finally, after 4 years of providing irrefutable, incontrovertible documentation demonstrating that our licensed professionals are woefully underpaid. After 4 years of showing that the mandatory overtime problems of our nurses were the direct result of the recruitment/retention problem. After 4 years of watching our licensed professionals leave state service for better compensation. Finally, we have some success. Read More >>
Important Update for Physicians, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Nurses.
Posted July 18th, 2022
This is to inform you that MAGE continues to advocate vociferously for special wage raises and classification grade increases in your classification. Please monitor the MAGE webpage for updates.
Any members who are considering giving up and seeking employment elsewhere, please wait. Be patient. Changes are on the horizon.
Meet the 2022 MAGE-OPEIU Local 2002 Howard Coughlin Memorial Scholarship Winner
Posted July 13th, 2022
MAGE is happy to announce that we had one winner of the Howard Coughlin Memorial Scholarship! Read on for more information. Read More >>
Legislative Report - June 2022
Posted July 5th, 2022
The Michigan Legislature completed work on the FY 2022-3 budget for the fiscal year starting on October 1. The combined appropriation including state departments, K-12 School Aid, Community Colleges and Universities will total over $75 billion. Even so, the Legislature decided to leave approximately $7 billion unspent. These dollars will be subject to future negotiations to take place in the ensuing months.
Overall, the budget passed last night represents moderate increases across nearly all departments. In cases where departments saw a reduction in revenue, it was due to the expiration of one-time appropriations in the current year budget. The budget also saw a substantial commitment to reducing pension liabilities, a move that will save state and local governments billions over the next decades.
The Legislature will now enter its summer recess period, and lawmakers who are running for reelection will spend the next two months campaigning in their districts. The Legislature will return to full session in September. Read More >>
2022 OPEIU Student Debt Reduction Program Application Period CLOSING SOON
Posted April 18th, 2022
Attached you will find the rules, regulations and application for the OPEIU 2022 Student Debt Reduction Program.
All applications must be sent to MAGE and signed by the MAGE Local 2002 President or Secretary/Treasurer before submission to OPEIU. Any application that is incomplete or unsigned will be returned to the Local Union Office for follow up with the member/application. This may cause the application to be delayed or even denied if it is not timely submitted.
More information can be found on the OPEIU Website.
The application deadline is June 30, 2022. Take advantage of these benefits, it really does pay to belong!
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Legislative Report - May 2022
Posted May 20th, 2022
The Michigan Legislature has passed both House and Senate responses to the Governor’s budget proposal, and the final negotiations on the FY 2022-23 appropriations bills are expected to take place over the next four to six weeks. The pending Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference is taking place on May 21, and it is expected to show another increase in revenue estimates. Just how large an impact this will have on state spending is yet to be determined, but the new numbers will certainly factor into ongoing budget negotiations. Indeed, it has already sparked new proposals from the Governor and the Legislature on how to spend this surplus.
Legislation making changes to rules for retired MPSERS members who return to work has also seen action in the House and Senate. The bills would remove many of the myriad criteria that MPSERS retirants must meet in order to come back to work in a school setting while continuing to receive pension benefits. More on these and other issues below.
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MAGE Updates
Posted May 3rd, 2022
Please remember to keep an eye on your spam email folder for any emails from MAGE. MAGE utilizes email for communicating important updates to our members. If you find that you have an email from MAGE in your spam folder, please make sure you flag the email as “not spam or junk” this will allow our emails to go right to your inbox.
Legislative Report March 2022
Posted March 3rd, 2022
The Michigan Legislature has returned from the winter break and (despite a few COVID-related delays in the Michigan House) are back in full session. Governor Whitmer’s State of the State Address and her subsequent budget recommendation laid out her goals for the upcoming year and the next fiscal year. Highlights of her proposals include the elimination of the so-called “retirement tax” as well as increases in the Earned Income Tax Credit, credits for electric vehicles, and large increases in mental health funding.
Republican leaders in the Michigan House and Senate, meanwhile, have focused on legislation that would reduce Michigan’s Income Tax rate from 4.25% to 3.9%. They have also targeted COVID-relief funds to shore up the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and provide grants to small businesses who have been hardest hit by the pandemic. Whether or not the two branches of government will be able to find agreement on any of these competing proposals (even at a time when Michigan revenues are sky-high) remains to be seen. It is, after all, an election year.
More on these issues and others below.
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Legislative Report as of December 17, 2021
Posted December 17th, 2021
The first year of the 2021-2 Michigan Legislative Session has come to a close, and the House and Senate went out with a bang. On the last session day of the year, the Legislature sent Governor Whitmer a large package of economic development bills aimed at attracting and retaining large business operations in Michigan. They also passed a series of budget supplemental bills that use a portion of the remaining federal COVID-relief dollars combined with surplus state funds to distribute money to a variety of state and local projects.
Speaking of COVID-19, although cases and hospitalization numbers stemming from the pandemic remain high, the loudest rhetoric in Lansing continues to come from individuals opposed to mandatory masking and vaccinations. While public health leaders continue to urge individuals to get vaccinated (and the majority of Michiganders have done so), and despite the fact that vaccine requirements remain popular with the general public, legislative leaders in Lansing continue to give deference to the vocal minority who decry vaccination. Michigan remains on the low-end of vaccination rates in the US, which could very well be driving our high hospitalization rates.
More on these issues and others below.
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Congratulations to the 2021 MAGE Scholarship Winners
Posted October 18th, 2021
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2021 MAGE Scholarship and Student Debt Reduction Awards. Every year MAGE offers our members and their families a chance to be awarded a $1,000 scholarship or student debt reduction award. Applications are accepted beginning June 1st through the last weekday of August every year. These awards help ease a small portion of the financial burden that is tied to higher education. MAGE wishes all recipients of this year’s scholarships and student debt reduction awards the best on their future endeavors. Read on to learn a little bit about our 2021 award winners! It pays to belong! Read More >>
Benefits Open Enrollment
Posted October 15th, 2021
Benefits Open Enrollment will take place from October 18, 2021 through November 9, 2021. Read on for more information on this years open enrollment.
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Legislative Report as of September 23, 2021
Posted September 23rd, 2021
The Michigan Legislature has completed its work on the FY 21-22 state budget, and not a moment too soon. The October 1 deadline is fast approaching, but on September 22 the House and Senate agreed on omnibus budget bills to fund state government, local revenue sharing and higher education for the upcoming fiscal year. The Governor has announced her support for the plan, although there still may be a few line-item vetoes before she signs the bills into law.
The Legislature and Governor also continue to spar over COVID-19 policies. The question around mask and vaccination mandates continues to dominate many discussions in Lansing and it has now spilled down to local government and school board levels. Although COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in Michigan are not yet at the level currently being seen in the southern US, there has been a spike of new cases in children since schools opened in late August. This has prompted vicious debates at school board and county commission meetings sometimes ending with threats of violence. The Legislature has weighed into the fray by including language in the budget bills that seek to neuter vaccine and mask mandates, and prohibit “vaccine passports” in all departments. They are also currently moving separate legislation that would ban vaccine and mask mandates altogether. That budget boilerplate language and the separate legislation is expected to be vetoed by Governor Whitmer.
A more detailed breakdown of key budget decisions is below.
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Happy Labor Day
Posted September 3rd, 2021
We hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday weekend. Thank you to all of our State Employees who work tirelessly to make Michigan a better and brighter place every day. MAGE Legislative Report: July 2021
Posted July 7th, 2021
Governor Whitmer lifted COVID-19 restrictions for all locations other than health care facilities on June 22. While there are still concerns about the growing spread of the Delta-variant which is more contagious and possibly more damaging to health, for the time being at least things are returning to normal in Michigan. Many state workers who have been working from home will begin to return to in-person work on July 12. However, many departments will be phasing in the return to work plans with some workers not expected to be back to in-person work until September.
In Lansing, the Michigan Legislature continues to work on the Fiscal Year 2022 budget that would begin on October 1, 2021. With the July 1 self-imposed deadline to pass a budget rapidly approaching, the House and Senate have scheduled June 30 for one last session day to complete the work. Discussions on the over $6 billion in federal funds the State of Michigan received from the American Rescue Plan Act have also been ongoing. It is likely that work on allocating those federal dollars will continue over the summer.
More on these issues below.
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Labor Relations Director Quoted in Lansing State Journal
Posted June 29th, 2021
Please take a moment to read the attached Lansing State Journal article regarding overtime in our state hospitals. Labor Relations Director John DeTizio is quoted in this article advocating for the removal of mandatory overtime and a special wage increase for our RN’s. Read More >>
Meet the 2021 MAGE-OPEIU Local 2002 Howard Coughlin Memorial Scholarship Winner
Posted June 17th, 2021
Please join us in extending our congratulations to the MAGE winner of the OPEIU Howard Coughlin Scholarship. Read More >>
COVID-19 Vaccination Sick Leave Allotment
Posted May 25th, 2021
The State of Michigan has announced that all career employees of the State of Michigan will receive a one-time grant of 8 hours of sick leave. This one time grant is intended to be used by the employee to obtain the COVID-19 vaccination. Follow the link to view Civil Service Regulation 5.10 for more detailed information.
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Legislative Report May 2021
Posted May 7th, 2021
As the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines continues, Governor Whitmer announced last week that pandemic restrictions will be lifted based on percentages of Michiganders who have been fully vaccinated. The plan, dubbed “Vacc to Normal,” will gradually eliminate limitations on gatherings, in-person work, mask usage and other restrictions based on milestones of vaccine distribution. This is the first indication that there is hopefully light at the end of the tunnel, though it comes at a time when much of Michigan is experiencing another wave of infection.
The Michigan Legislature is devoting most of its attention to the 2022 budget process, while at the same time preparing to pass supplemental bills for the current year that would appropriate federal COVID-relief funds. Over $1 billion in relief funds passed in Washington last December remain unspent, and that is in addition to the over $5 billion the state received recently as part of the American Rescue Plan federal legislation. Michigan lawmakers find themselves in a strange position of having to distribute huge amounts of one-time federal funds while at the same time having to balance long-term projections for state revenues.
More on these issues below.
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April 28, 2021 is Workers Memorial Day
Posted April 1st, 2021
2021 is the 50th anniversary of the Workers Memorial day. Follow the link for more information on Workers Memorial Day. Read More >>
Legislative Report March 2021
Posted March 18th, 2021
Whenever you have the Legislative and Executive Branches of government controlled by different political parties, some acrimony is expected. There is always tension and competition to win not only favored policies, but also to win the public relations battle. However, a solid year of pandemic restrictions have raised the temperature to unprecedented levels in Lansing. The Legislature has already been victorious in one lawsuit against Governor Whitmer, and it is possible that another may be coming soon to a courtroom near you.Read More >>
Benefits For Life Open Enrollment March 8 - 26
Posted March 1st, 2021
Benefits for Life Open Enrollment will open March 8 - 26 2021. Please see the attached news letter for more information.
Read More >>
COVID-19 Sick Leave Update
Posted February 3rd, 2021
As you all know MAGE has been advocating for the restoration of sick leave hours lost due to mandatory quarantine procedures in the DOC. We have taken a number of these to hearings and have notified our MAGE lobbyists to address this issue at the highest levels. Read More >>
Legislative Report October 2020
Posted October 27th, 2020
The last month has seen a budget agreement reached between Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature, the Michigan Supreme Court ruling that the law upon which the Governor based her emergency powers was unconstitutional, and a frantic effort to reinstate certain Executive Orders that protected things ranging from unemployment benefits to the ability of public bodies to meet remotely. It is a lot to process.
Although the Legislature has a handful of session days scheduled between now and the election, it is widely presumed that little legislating will take place in the days leading up to the election. The “Lame Duck” session, in which many lawmakers who will be leaving office on December 31 still have a chance to make laws, will begin soon after the election and run through mid-December.
More on these issues below.
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COVID - 19 and Workers Compensation
Posted October 19th, 2020
MAGE is encouraging its members who become ill with COVID-19, or who are quarantined due to coming into contact with COVID-19 at work to file a Workers’ Compensation claim. Read More >>
Michigan Association of Governmental Employees
OPEIU Local 2002
6920 S. Cedar, Suite 7
Lansing, MI 48911
OPEIU Local 2002
6920 S. Cedar, Suite 7
Lansing, MI 48911
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Phone: Fax: |
(800) 477-MAGE (517) 694-3123 (517) 694-8250 |