June 27, 2007
'Push week' update 2: Governor's team ups wage offer, health-care hikes still massive
The governor's team increased its wage offer during the "push week" negotiations for a new two-year contract Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning. However, the governor's team refused to budge from massive health-care increases it is proposing for all state employees.
Going into Tuesday, the governor's team proposed a $750 per year lump sum payment each year to each member and progression steps only the second year of the contract for MAPE members. The governor's team increased its wage proposal to MAPE Tuesday afternoon to one-half of a percent across-the-board (ATB) increase each year and is now proposing progression steps both years.
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| Don’t accept a pay cut! State employees deserve a wage increase to cover inflation, not a pay cut! |
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The governor's team increased the ATB Wednesday it is offering to MAPE members to 1 percent each year.
MAPE's negotiators have reduced the cost of their proposals by $35 million. They have presented the governor's team with three comprehensive packages pulling together unresolved issues. The governor's team has increased the cost of its proposals by approximately $6 million.
The huge gap between the cost of health-care proposals still remains. The governor’s team proposes massive health-care cost shifts that could mean an estimated $1,300 in additional out-of-pocket drug and medical costs for family coverage. This would increase nearly all copays and deductibles.
Reminder: MAPE/AFSCME rally and picnic for a fair contract is 11:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. today (Wednesday) on the Capitol lawn in St. Paul.
Please take a few minutes to send a letter to the governor from our Legislative Action area: http://capwiz.com/mape/issues/
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MAPE Negotiations Team |
Governor's Team |
| wages |
- Across-the-board (ATB):
- 1st year: 7.25 percent.
- 2nd year: 7.25 percent.
- Progression steps: both years.
- Add progression steps to top of range each year.
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- Across-the-board (ATB):
- 1st year: 1 percent.
- 2nd year: 1 percent.
- Progression steps: both years.
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| health care |
- Status quo for costs picked up by union members and their families.
- Hold clinics accountable.
- Keep plan administrative costs under adequate control.
- Give wellness programs a chance to reduce costs before shifting burden to employees.
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- Increase maximum drug out of pocket limits.
- Increase maximum nondrug out of pocket limits.
- Increase deductibles for all services except drugs and preventive care.
- Health-care assessment requirement and coaching for members to obtain $5 reduction in copays.
- Emergency room copays doubled.
- Increases in inpatient admissions.
- Increases in outpatient surgery copay.
- Additional 10 percent after deductible cost to member for MRI/CT scans.
- Increase of 5 percent to members for services not subject to copay.
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