Over 400 delegates of the largest state employees' union have voted unanimously to recommend rejection of the state's last offer when the union?s rank and file vote on the document later this month.

The delegates to the Negotiations Assembly held Saturday in Arden Hills come from six state employee bargaining units represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 6. AFSCME represents approximately 19,000 state employees in a wide range of jobs, including corrections officers, zoo keepers, clerical employees, snow plow drivers, health care workers, fisheries technicians, and state parks employees.

Two other AFSCME committees, the Master Negotiations Committee, and the Council 6 Executive Board, have also recommended the union?s rank and file reject the state?s last offer. That vote will take place across the state the week of Sept. 22. The ballots will be counted Monday, Sept. 29.

The union says the state is trying to force employees to pick up all cost increases for health care for the two-year span of the next contract. Combined premium, deductibles, and other increased costs could cost an AFSCME member as much as $6,000.

AFSCME Council 6 Executive Director Peter Benner said, ?It is simply wrong to balance the state?s budget on the backs of working families. It is particularly heartless to target those families who need to use their insurance because of some catastrophic event. Moreover this policy is shortsighted in the extreme because it will drive away talented state employees when we need them most.?