Unions representing thousands of Minnesota state workers reach tentative contract agreements
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Two unions representing thousands of state of Minnesota employees say they reached tentative contract agreements with the state early Friday.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 5, and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, say the agreements came after marathon negotiations.
They will need to be ratified by union members. AFSCME has not yet set a date for that ratification vote; MAPE members will vote on their agreement in August.
“This tentative agreement is the direct result of the incredible strength, solidarity, and determination shown by our union members from every corner of our state who were determined to fight for economic justice and the public services they provide every day,” AFSCME Council 5 Executive Director Bart Andersen said in a news release. “Because we stood together, we beat back disastrous proposals that would have gutted our health insurance, frozen our wages, and cost our families thousands every year.”
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“To fight off concessions in a year like this is a real testament to our members,” MAPE President Megan Dayton said in a news release. “They showed up at the table, at the rallies and at the site. This was a contract campaign in the truest sense, and our members won it.”
“This contract isn’t perfect. But it’s progress. It’s protection. And it’s proof that when members organize, we win,” Dayton said.
State officials said they would not comment on the tentative agreements until they’re ratified.
Among the provisions of the agreements, the unions said they blocked changes that would have significantly raised out-of-pocket insurance costs for their members.
They also secured across-the-board raises totaling more than 3 percent over the term of the contracts, which run from 2025 through 2027.
MAPE said the agreement also preserves paid parental leave.
Tensions between state employee unions and the administration of Gov. Tim Walz had escalated after Walz in March announced a policy requiring state employees to work from the office at least 50 percent of the time.
Union leaders said they weren’t consulted before that policy was announced. It was not something that could be negotiated in the new contract, but MAPE said it “worked hard to secure stronger telework protections.”
The union said Friday that the tentative agreement requires a three-week notice for changes to telework schedules, an increase from two weeks.
