As we are all aware, we are working under a contract whose term ran through June 30th, 2021. However, the terms of the contract remain in effect until a successor agreement is reached voluntarily or an order from an arbitrator is in place. MMB asked MGEC to return to mediation July 29th. The outcome was a Tentative Agreement (TA) which MGEC will send out to the membership for a vote. If the majority of the voting members reject the TA, we continue to arbitration but new dates will be selected. If the majority of the voting members accept the TA, the agreement still has to go to the Legislative Subcommittee on Employee Relations and if passed or no action is taken, could be implemented by sometime mid to late October.
What happens if I retire or change jobs? If you leave service before the new contract is implemented, you are still owed backpay based on the rates in the new contract. BUT you must request the State to pay you for the difference! The same applies if you leave a job covered by the MGEC Agreement and take another position with the State of Minnesota covered by another contract. Contact HR asking for your backpay.
The back pay will also affect your MSRS pension calculation. Unlike requesting the backpay from the state, this process with MSRS is automatic. You will want to ensure that the math is correct, and MSRS is available to ensure that your retirement is calculated correctly.