Legislative leaders have introduced bills that finally would ratify contracts for more than 41,000 state workers in 10 separate unions. The trade-off is that the unions will quit fighting to keep controversial language that extends health-insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners.

The contracts have been in legislative limbo for more than a year, dating back to the 15-day strike in October 2001 by the two largest unions, AFSCME and MAPE. Because the House of Representatives refused to ratify those two contracts, and others that followed, the contracts have been in effect only on a provisional basis.

Rejection would lead to pay cuts
The provisional status allowed workers in most bargaining units to receive pay raises and back pay as scheduled. But if the Legislature adjourns again this spring without ratifying the contracts, or rejects the contracts outright, raises and other workplace improvements disappear.

For most state employees, that would mean immediate pay cuts averaging 6 to 7 percent, plus possible loss of health insurance and other benefits. Unions would be forced back to the bargaining table for contracts that expire June 30 of this year anyway. Unions that have the right to strike could do so.

'Leadership at the Legislature and in the governor's office understands the need to get this behind us,' said Don Dinndorf, communications director for AFSCME Council 6, which represents about half the affected workers.

Nurses await first pay raise in three years
Ratification is even more urgent for 700 nurses who work in regional treatment centers, the veterans hospital, state prisons or other state health divisions. These nurses - already underpaid by private-sector standards - have not had a pay raise since July 2000.

Their contract was resolved in November only after binding arbitration. The arbitrator awarded raises of 5 percent dating back to July 2001, and another 5 percent dating back to July 2002. But the nurses won't get their raises unless the Legislature approves the settlement.

Because of the way state labor law is written, 'all the other unions have gotten back pay and gotten raises, but we have not,' said Walt Fredrickson, legislative director for the Minnesota Nurses Association.

The delay is one reason nurses are leaving state employment in droves, said Linda Lange, a business agent for the nurses union.

In the first 11 months of last year, 98 nurses left, giving the bargaining unit the highest turnover rate among state agencies, Lange said. 'And they're still leaving at sadly high numbers.'

Domestic partner benefits doomed
Julie Bleyhl, legislative director for AFSCME Council 6, said the unions have no choice but to surrender on the issue of domestic partner benefits.

'We'd prefer that the benefit be retained,' she said. 'But the reality is, the votes are not there. The November election results determined that.'

In the previous legislative session, contract opponents singled out domestic partner benefits as a reason to reject the contracts.

However, the Minnesota Government Engineers Council did not include the benefit in its contract, yet the House refused to ratify that one, too.

Jim Monroe, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, said statistics show that only 65 state employees have filed for the domestic partner benefit.

Next negotiations begin Feb. 27
Contract ratification, even this late in the game, is more than symbolic, AFSCME's Dinndorf said. It would shore up the collective bargaining process and clear the decks for the unions to turn around and negotiate their next contracts.

AFSCME expects to present its initial contract proposal, for the 2004-2005 biennium on Feb. 27. 'It's hard to get started when you don't know where the floor is,' Dinndorf said.

Written for The Union Advocate newspaper, the official publication of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. Used by permission. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@mtn.org