Bargaining updates

Your Bargaining Team continued contract negotiations with the State on October 4.  Our team remains frustrated that we’ve now met 5 times with the State including twice with a mediator and we still don’t have an agreement that’s suitable for our membership.  The State continues to want to eliminate proposals rather than focus on the interests of both sides to make meaningful change.  After meeting for 11 hours on this day until 8:00 pm, the team left very frustrated. Near the end of the night, the State made an offer that included the 5.5% and 4.5% Across the Board wage increases that other ... Read More >>

Much of our last update remains the current status. Bargaining moved to mediation September 27, 2023. A main focus was identification of comparable positions with other public employers. This had been resolved years ago in prior joint compensation studies between MGEC and the State of Minnesota. But the employer now contends those comparisons should change and they’ve chosen lower-level positions, which skews any wage comparison, making state compensation appear more competitive. Thus far, the state has not offered new funds, without tying them to deal killing proposals. We will meet again ... Read More >>

Bargaining resumed August 25, 2023. MGEC encouraged negotiations that focus on accepting proposals terms and conditions. The State proposed dropping many proposals. Consequently, few proposals have been agreed to thus far. For instance, MGEC is waiting for the state to put the wages increase on the table.  A summary follows. Tentative Agreements Use of Paid Parental Leave for stillbirth or death of child Employee working out of class is eligible to receive pay based on the work out of class assignment Increase meals to Breakfast $9 to $11 ($12 high-cost) Lunch $11 to $13 ... Read More >>

MGEC met with the State August 17, 2023. At this stage of bargaining, the state likes to propose “drop/drop” packages to eliminate many of the proposals made by either side. MGEC asked that the process focus on proposals most important to reach a voluntary agreement that might be satisfactory to the parties. Given a clear history of the state providing the same Across The Board (ATB) increases to all unions, MGEC proposed the State make their economic offer so all proposals could be considered at the same time. The State responded with a take it all or nothing package that included increases ... Read More >>

The bargaining cycle for the next MGEC contract kicked off Tuesday, July 18th at the MnDOT Training Center in Arden Hills.  MGEC’s bargaining team exchanged proposals with the State in the first of what is expected to be a series of meetings.  Additional meetings are scheduled in August through October.  Time is needed by both sides in between meetings to study each proposal and carefully consider responses.  Often times, proposals (and responses) interact with each other, and all this must be carefully thought out to do right by the membership. Bargaining a labor contract is rarely a ... Read More >>

In May MGEC surveyed members asking questions about their priorities and preferences for the next contract. The MGEC Bargaining Team met in June and will meet again in July to prepare the bargaining strategy and proposal for July 18th, the first day of bargaining with the State of Minnesota. It’s clear, the Across the Board (ATB) agreed to by AFSCME  & MAPE (5.5% 7/1/23 and 4.5% 7/1/24) will impact these discussions. MGEC has many other issues to address a few of which include: the calculation of overtime (vacation, sick, holiday and compensatory time should count when calculating OT), ... Read More >>