May 15, 2009

Negotiations Update – MGEC continued negotiations with the State of Minnesota Thursday, May 14, 2009.  The State’s revised economic offer stands as follows: Wage Freeze, No Progression Steps, and Deferred Compensation at the current $300/year employer match. This offer is a pay cut for employees.  Negotiations will continue sometime in June with a mediator from the Bureau of Mediation Services.  Tentatively, the parties have agreed to change the date compensatory time must be used or cashed out from the second pay period in March to the second pay period in April.  $125 added to the employees Health Reimbursement Account January 1, 2011.

Member Actions Needed - 1) Document details from examples of contracting out work at rates higher than if state employees did the work, and share information with MGEC.  2) Join other state employees in contacting your agency commissioner and legislators and insist they give serious consideration to cost saving measures offered by employees.  3) Write letters to the media insisting the state freeze wage increases on its consultants to match or beat costs if state employees did the work.