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October marks the 45^th anniversary of the North Dakota Public Employee Association. In honor of our 45^th birthday, we thought it would be fun to share with you, the history of NDPEA.

 The North Dakota Public Employees Association traces its beginnings to an organizational meeting in January of 1963. A group of representatives from 18 state agencies and boards, concerned with state employee policies, met to discuss what they considered to be inadequate employee benefits, salary levels, and job security. From this meeting a legislative committee was formed to review legislation regarding employee health insurance and retirement plans as proposed by the North Dakota State Highway Employees Association. A Legislative Advisory Committee was also appointed to give assistance and guidance during the coming legislative session. Although the proposed retirement bill was lost in the Senate, the Committee's efforts contributed to successfully passing an employee health insurance bill which included an amendment adding life insurance.

 Encouraged by their success in the legislative session, the committee sought out other employees who were interested in forming an organization to promote employee rights. As a result the North Dakota State Employees Association was established in May of 1964. The purpose of the Association, according to the Articles of Incorporation, was (in part) to promote and establish:

• A merit system for all state employees.
• A retirement or pension plan for all state employees.
• The general economic welfare of employees.
• Mutual understanding and good will among employees.
• A newsletter for the purpose of providing communication among employees.

By the end of the first year the Association had increased to 1,610 members organized into seven chapters (as well as the Highway Employees Association) in the Bismarck area. Members targeted passage of an employee retirement plan as the primary goal during the 1965 Legislative Session. Their intensive work and study were rewarded when a State Employee Retirement Plan was passed by the senate in March of that year.

 Over the next decade the membership and strength of the Association grew steadily. Due in part to lobbying by the Association, members at the state colleges received increased benefits, the Governor's Standard Personnel Policy was drafted, minimum wages were increased, and many other benefits were secured for state employees. In 1975 the State Personnel Board was formed to review the classification and merit systems, personnel policies and other employee programs with the intention of establishing a unified system for all state employees. The Personnel Board could also serve as arbitrator in settling grievances broached by the Association.

 Membership in the Association was initially restricted to state employees and an ongoing debate centered upon the possibility of extending membership to county and city employees. In 1980, the title of the organization was changed to North Dakota Public Employees Association in order to reflect the importance of achieving improved benefits for these employees as well.

 Since the inception of NDPEA, employee policies and benefits have changed substantially and many of the original goals have been accomplished. The initial concept of the Association remains the same -- to work towards fair and equitable policies for all public employees.

 Keep an eye out for more updates regarding NDPEA’s 45^th birthday. Let’s work together to build upon the foundation that was laid for us in 1964 by asking our colleagues and co-workers to join NDPEA today. If you are not yet a member, please contact our Bismarck office at 1-800-472-2698 for more information TODAY!