MAPE members secure tentative 2025-2027 contract agreement

* updated 6 p.m. Friday, June 27

In a final 20-hour bargaining marathon, MAPE members secured a tentative agreement for the 2025-2027 contract that protects health care, delivers wage increases, maintains step increases and builds long-overdue telework protections. The agreement comes after months of organizing and a full week of actions and intensive negotiations that concluded early in the morning on June 27.    

“To fight off concessions in a year like this is a real testament to our members,” said MAPE President Megan Dayton. “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.” 

Minnesota Management and Budget’s (MMB) initial proposal would have shifted $2,500-$4,500 per year in health care costs onto members. MAPE successfully fought back the most aggressive health care cost increases in recent memory, saving members thousands in potential out-of-pocket expenses and protecting current health care plan designs.

“We walked into negotiations fighting to save our members thousands of dollars,” said Negotiations Co-Chair Carolyn Murphy. “And we succeeded.” 

MMB’s opening wage offer was 0.5% per year, just 1% total over two years. Through sustained pressure and action, MAPE’s negotiators secured more than 3% (1.5%/1.75%) in across-the-board increases over the contract term, despite a challenging budget environment and threats to both steps and COLAs. 

MMB attempted to eliminate Paid Parental Leave from the contract, despite members having fought for years to win it. MAPE’s team refused to let it go. 

“We didn’t allow them to erase what we earned,” Murphy said. “PPL is protected, and it stays in our contract.” 

“We held the line, we stayed strategic, and we never lost sight of what mattered most to our members,” said Negotiations Co-Chair Sean McIntyre. “This agreement reflects that discipline. Every inch we gained came from organized pressure, and a team that didn’t back down.” 

While Return-to-Office was not a negotiable item, MAPE’s team worked hard to secure stronger telework protections. The agreement includes a 21-day notice requirement for changes to telework schedules, up from 14 days, offering more stability and predictability. 

For the first time, MAPE’s and AFSCME’s Negotiations Teams bargained side-by-side, uniting the State’s two largest state government unions at the table. The partnership amplified the voices of tens of thousands of public employees and sent a clear message that we are stronger together.  

MAPE members will have the opportunity to learn about the full agreement before the ratification vote Aug. 1-7. The MAPE Negotiations Team unanimously recommends a YES vote and the board voted to recommend approval as well. The deadline to sign up to be a member in order vote on the TA is July 25.

MAPE’s team began bargaining with MMB on April 15 and entered a full week of final negotiations during Push Week, June 23-27. Over those five days, hundreds of members rallied across the state, and hundreds more showed up in person to support the bargaining team. 

“This contract isn’t perfect. But it’s progress. It’s protection. And it’s proof that when members organize, we win,” said Dayton. 

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