Tentative agreement FAQ
2013-15 contract
Publish Date
Committees
Tentative agreement Q&A
(Ver. 7/11/13)
Timeline
- July 1-31 – Informational meetings take place
- July 15 – Voter Booklet emailed to members
- July 24 at midnight – Last day to become a member
- July 25 – Last day to request a paper ballot
- Aug. 1 – Voting instructions and ballot book links e-mailed to members
- Aug. 1 – Voting begins at 12:01 a.m.
- Aug. 7 – Web voting ends at midnight – paper ballots due
- Aug. 12 – Elections Committee certifies results
INSURANCE:
MAPE has received a variety of questions regarding the health insurance and the changes included in the tentative contract agreement. Below is a brief overview of the structure of state health insurance and the key changes included in the tentative agreement.
Under the State Employee Group Insurance Plan (SEGIP), there are separate premium costs for single coverage and dependent coverage. The state sets these premium levels each year based on the expected costs of providing health care to employees and to dependents. These costs include provider charges, administrative expenses and money needed to maintain reserve accounts.
Premiums are expected to increase by approximately 12.5 percent on Dec. 31, 2013, and by 4.4 percent on Dec. 31, 2014. Premiums tend to go up each year reflecting the increased overall costs of providing health care. Holding costs down is in the interests of MAPE members provided that everyone has access to affordable, high quality health care. It is also in the interests of state agencies to hold down premium costs given that agencies pay to SEGIP the portion of the premium not paid by the employee (the larger portion).
Under the current contract the state pays 100 percent of the single premium and 85 percent of the dependent premium. On Jan. 1, 2015, this will change and the state will only pay 95 percent of the single coverage premium. This means that employees will begin paying 5 percent of the single coverage premium and continue to pay 15 percent of the dependent coverage premium.
With the tentative agreement, all copays, deductibles and out-of-pocket charges will remain unchanged! These charges are outlined in Article 20 of the contract.
Q: MAPE employees will be required to start paying 5 percent of the single coverage health insurance premium beginning Jan. 1, 2015. How much do you anticipate 5 percent to be?
A: Five percent of the single coverage health insurance premium is anticipated to be approximately $14 per pay period or $28 per month. This amount will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2015, following your 3 percent wage adjustments in 2013 and 2014.
Q: Will dependent insurance coverage go up?
A: Yes. Although dependent insurance will remain covered at 85 percent for all employees electing dependent coverage, the cost is anticipated to go up 12.5 percent for 2014 and 4.4 percent for 2015. The increases will result in an annual increase for employees with dependent coverage in January of those years.
Q: What other changes in health insurance costs are included in this contract?
A: There are no other increases to out-of-pocket charges, additional cost shifts or structural benefit changes.
Q: When does the increase to the maximum dental coverage begin ($1,000 to $1,500?
A: The additional $500 in maximum dental insurance coverage takes effect on Jan. 1, 2014.
Q: Are there any other changes to our dental insurance?
A: No. However, employees will continue to pay 10 percent of the single premium for dental coverage and 50 percent of the dependent premium under the proposed agreement. Increasing the maximum dental coverage from $1,000 to $1,500 will increase dental premiums, though the increases are expected to be small. The new dental premium amounts will not be known until the state finalizes its negotiations with the two dental plan administrators later this year.
Q: If my spouse works for the State of Minnesota, can one of us just pay the 5 percent single coverage insurance premium while the other can be covered by the spouse’s dependent coverage?
A: No. Our current contract language does not allow for an employee to go onto another employee’s insurance as a dependent. This provision remains in place under the tentative agreement.
Q: Since I would be required to pay 5 percent of the single premium coverage, can I opt out of the state’s insurance altogether?
A: Employees will not be allowed to opt out of the single insurance coverage. All state employees in SEGIP will be required to pay the 5 percent single premium coverage, which will be approximately $28 per month for the duration of this contract.
Q: Will Lasik eye surgery be covered by state employees’ health insurance?
A: Lasik eye surgery will not be included in insurance coverage for SEGIP members. The cost for this optional coverage was extremely expensive, and we were unable to reach an agreement to include coverage for Lasik eye surgery in the health plan.
WAGES:
Q: Is everyone entitled to step increases in addition to the 3 percent yearly wage adjustments on July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2014?
A: MAPE employees who receive a satisfactory performance evaluation on their anniversary dates and who don’t meet or exceed the maximum salary in their range are eligible for step increases in each year of the contract.
Q: When will I receive my 3 percent wage adjustment for July 1, 2013
A: MAPE represented employees will receive the 3 percent wage adjustment (retroactive to July 1, 2013) after the membership votes to ratify the tentative agreement and the legislative committee recommends that it be passed. Within five days of member ratification, the tentative contract agreement will be sent to the Legislative Coordinating Commission’s Subcommittee on Employee Relations (SER). SER then has 30 days to meet and make a recommendation on the contract. If SER fails to meet in that time frame, the contract will go into effect. If they do meet and recommend that the full Legislature pass the tentative agreement, it also goes into effect. If SER recommends that it not pass, the tentative agreement will not go into effect unless the full Legislature passes legislation approving the tentative agreement. If SER recommends the contract or does not meet within the 30-day required time frame, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) will calculate employee back pay to July 1 and pay employees retroactively. Regardless of any action, the contract will go before the 2014 Legislature for final approval in 2014.
RETIREMENT:
Q: If an employee retires after July 1, 2013, but before the new contract goes into effect (ratified and approved by SER), will their unused sick leave and vacation leave (put into health care savings account) include the 3 percent pay increase?
A: No. Employees who retire prior to receiving any back payment of wages on their pay checks will not receive any additional retroactive benefits as a result of this proposed agreement.
Q: If I retire before the retroactive pay is calculated, will MSRS recalculate my benefits using the negotiated wage increase?
A: No. Your benefits will be based on your wages at the time you leave state service. So, if you leave state service before your retroactive, negotiated wage increase goes into effect, you will not receive any retroactive wages or benefits.
MISC. QUESTIONS:
Q: How does MAPE's contract settlement compare to other state unions?
A: AFSCME and MAPE were the first two unions to settle state contracts for 2013-15. The remaining state contracts are being negotiated. Historically, other settlements have closely mirrored the MAPE and AFSCME contract settlements on pay and benefits.
Q: How do we find out if there were any changes to the contract supplemental in our specific agencies?
A: Employees are encouraged to check with their Negotiations Team representatives about specific changes.Members will also receive an e-mail including a link to the voter booklet outlining all the changes prior to the contract vote.
Q: Were any deferred compensation changes made in this contract?
A: There were no additional deferred compensation changes made to this contract. As in the past, the governor’s team costs these proposals as if every employee takes advantage of the benefit even though many members do not use the deferred compensation benefit. This makes it a very costly proposal, and unfortunately did not make it through to the final proposed agreement for this contract.
Q: How will the good government initiative work?
A: MAPE will participate in a labor-management process with state management. Agencies will have the option to participate, and we will know which agencies have chosen to participate later this year. Joint subcommittees will be formed in the participating agencies. These subcommittees will participate in comprehensive labor-management discussions surrounding good government practices. As part of the joint subcommittee, MAPE members will be able to share their thoughts and ideas equally with management. The process will also include training for both MAPE and agency management participants. MAPE will be providing additional information on this as agencies begin to move forward with the concept.
Q: How will the generational transition initiative work?
A: The same process described above will be used here as well. MAPE will participate in a labor-management process with state management. Agencies will have the option to participate, and we will know which agencies have chosen to participate later this year. Joint subcommittees will be formed in the participating agencies. These subcommittees will participate in comprehensive labor-management discussions surrounding planning for the large number of MAPE retirements expected in the next couple of years. As part of the joint subcommittee, MAPE members will be able to share their thoughts and ideas equally with management. The process will also include training for both MAPE and agency management participants. MAPE will be providing additional information on this as agencies begin to move forward with the concept.
Q: How can members participate in wellness programs?
A: MAPE has attempted to bargain reimbursement of fitness club fees for the past several contracts. Research has shown that the reimbursement is very costly to the health plan, and that most of the participants drop out after several months. As an alternative, MAPE has agreed to engage the state around its work site programs and initiatives. The state is investing additional resources into its work site programs, and we believe there is opportunity for MAPE members to help make these programs successful. MAPE will be providing more information on this project in the future.
Q: Did MAPE make progress on protecting veterans in the workplace?
A: Yes, we did. MAPE represented employees called up for military duty now will have the right to a meeting with HR and their union steward prior to deployment. The purpose of the meeting is to go over the employees’ rights and benefits while on military leave. The state has also agreed to recognize MAPE stewards in representing veterans when the veterans are enforcing their rights under federal and state law with a state agency. Additionally, MAPE will be meeting with representatives from the Governor’s Office and MMB to discuss veteran member issues and concerns.
Q: Does the new contract affect the ability of people recently hired, and still in their probationary period, to take vacation?
A: Unfortunately, no. The contract won’t go into effect until it is recommended for legislative approval by the legislative Subcommittee on Employee Relations or passed by the full Legislature. So, anyone hired between now and the time it is recommended or passed into law will not receive the 40 hours, or any portion of the 40 hours, up front to take vacation. This is handled much in the same manner as an employee who retires between now and when the contract takes effect, the employee will not get the retroactive 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment.
Q: Will the meal allowance increases be retroactive to July 1 if the contract goes into effect?
A: No. There is no retroactive date in the contract for the meal allowance increases. The meal allowance changes go into effect on Jan. 1, 2014.