Contract implementation delayed 30 days following tie vote of legislative subcommittee for 2015-17 contract

MAPE’s contract will go into effect in 30 days following a tie vote of the legislative Subcommittee on Employee Relations (SER) Thursday at the state Capitol. The 30-day delay was announced by Greg Hubinger, director of the Legislative Coordinating Commission, following the group’s separate tie votes along party lines on four public employee agreements.

In the photo on the right, Rep. Leon Lillie (left, DFL-43B) addressed the subcommittee while Debra Hilstrom (DFL-40B) looked on.

Across-the-board raises of 2.5 percent and back pay to July 1 will go into effect in 30 days due to the 5-all tie votes on separate motions to approve each of the four contracts. The tie votes mean SER took “no action.” The contracts go to the Legislature for final approval during the 2016 legislative session that begins March 8.

MAPE’s 2015-17 contract includes a second 2.5 percent general wage increase next year on July 1. MAPE’s contract also includes step increases both years of the contract for eligible bargaining unit members.

Three other public employee union contracts delayed by tie votes are: AFSCME Council 5, AFSCME Unit 225 Radio Communications Operators and Middle Management Association.

SER approved two MnSCU related contracts (Inter Faculty Organization, and the Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty) by slim 6-4 votes, with one Republican joining the five Democrats in favor of approval. A seventh contract (Minnesota Law Enforcement Association) was listed on an earlier agenda for review, but had been removed from Thursday's agenda.

In the photo on the right, SER Chair James Metzen (center, DFL-52) addressed the subcommittee.

Voting in favor of MAPE’s agreement and the three others were: DFL senators James Metzen, Tom Saxhaug and Chris Eaton, and DFL representatives Debra Hilstrom and Leon Lillie. Voting against MAPE’s agreement and the three others were: Republican senators Gary Dahms and Michelle Benson, and Republican representatives Steve Drazkowski, Bob Barrett and Glenn Gruenhagen.

As usual, Drazkowski spent a good deal of time grilling Minnesota Management and Budget's (MMB’s) representatives about the contract compensation packages. “Do you have the money available … for these increases?” he asked. MMB Assistant Commissioner Marcy Cordes responded that state agencies will be expected to pay for the pay increases within their existing budgets.

“I find this troubling,” Drazkowski said. He characterized budgeting for pay increases after they are already negotiated as “mismanagement.”

“You can’t have it both ways,” Hilstrom responded. She pointed out that when the Legislature budgets for contract pay raises before they are negotiated, the Republicans accuse the DFL of granting the raises to public employees before they are negotiated. “If we don’t, you say we are stealing from children,” Hilstrom said.

Gruenhagen tried in vain to pass a nonbinding resolution where SER members could give contract input to the MMB commissioner. It failed on a 5-all tie vote along party lines.

Lillie praised public workers. He said the state has a “pretty amazing workforce. We all value the work they do.”

Lillie didn’t take issue with SER members who had questions. However, he did object to “theatrics” by some committee members. “Some of this is for show,” Lillie said.

Should the 2016 Legislature not approve our ratified contract, MAPE employees revert back to their 2013-15 contract and negotiators will go back to the bargaining table. Money from pay adjustments received prior to this would not have to be paid back.