MAPE members asked to approve two-year contract offer

At midnight June 29, union and state negotiators reached a tentative agreement covering 11,500 professional employees represented by MAPE. MAPE\’s tentative agreement calls for 3.25 percent across-the-board wage increases each year, effective July 1, 2007, and progression steps each year for those members who qualify.

AFSCME Council 5 also reached a tentative agreement on a new pact covering 19,000 state workers.

"This is a good compensation package," MAPE Executive Director Jim Monroe said following the vote Monday by the union\’s Board of Directors to recommend ratification of the agreement.

"We will have increased out-of-pocket health-care costs, but we eliminated additional increases in the second year. At the same time, the unions brought innovations to the table to help curb drug out-of-pocket costs. Our members should be proud of this contract offer."

Pioneered by MAPE and AFSCME, the health-care plan revamps the way the prescription drug program is managed. It uses a pharmacy benefit manager program which is expected to put approximately $5 million in savings back into the health-care plan in the first year.

"This pharmacy benefit manager program will be a seamless change for our members, yet it holds the line on out-of-pocket drug costs," Monroe said. "The unions provided the historic leadership to bring this innovative program on line."

Monroe added, "Our negotiations team and membership did an incredible job in helping us to pull together this contract offer. We owe them a huge thank-you for all of their hard work."

Informational meetings will be held all across the state before MAPE members are asked to vote via mail ballot. Ballots will be counted Aug. 6. If MAPE members reject the contract offer, the union\’s board will be authorized to call a strike.

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