Bargaining updates

Is there is any timeline set for when the contract will be signed? It’s likely to be January 2023. How the backpay is calculated? Backpay is typically provided for hours worked from the effective date of the contract (likely to be July 1, 2021 to the date of implementation).  More information will be provided by MGEC to help you estimate this value in the future.  Please remember that this is taxable income.  An employee may make adjustments to their tax withholdings for the pay period in which the backpay is paid. Why are none of the union contracts renegotiated before the ... Read More >>

Our contract continues to move along in the process toward arbitration.  The next steps in the process are to select an arbitrator and set dates for arbitration.  A list of 7 potential arbitrators has been provided to MGEC and the State.  We research past cases that they’ve arbitrated and each side gets to eliminate 3 options from consideration.  The last one remaining will be our arbitrator.  We will work with that person to set dates for arbitration; as of now, it’s looking like the arbitration may not occur until June or July. Recently, 4 issues were certified for arbitration meaning ... Read More >>

What’s new? January 18th the Subcommittee on Employee Relations of the Minnesota Legislature passed contracts and plans for employee groups in the Minnesota State university system. They also passed Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) pertaining to use of sick leave related to COVID-19 and to increase the amount the employer reimburses employees for safety footwear from $125 to $175. MGEC believes the MOU is unnecessary and places arbitrary limitations on the amount reimbursed to the employees. We didn’t agree to it and the employer continues to limit reimbursement to $125 for MGEC. We believe ... Read More >>

After several days of bargaining without making significant progress towards a voluntary agreement, MGEC suggested the process continue with the assistance of a mediator. The first day of mediation for the 2021 – 2023 Contract was November 23.  We worked hard to make an offer to the state that addressed some of our priorities and which could be recommended to the membership.  Mediation was adjourned that day without the state making an offer, but they are expected to open our mediation meeting on December 7 with their counter proposal.  More info will come ASAP after our mediation meeting on ... Read More >>

The first day of bargaining with the state was postponed from June 24th to July 28th. With the legislature still in session, bargaining with AFSCME and MAPE was delayed and will continue into late July.  The state recently informed MGEC that they would not be ready to present their opening proposals in June when MGEC was scheduled to start bargaining.  MGEC prefers both sides share their proposals on the same day. The delay to July means we may  know the outcome of bargaining for the larger unions when we begin bargaining. ... Read More >>