The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) ratified a new two-year contract with the State of Minnesota effective July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2003.

In all, 80.97 percent or 4,085 voting members voted to accept the state's offer and 18.85 percent or 951 voted to reject. Ballots were mailed to 7,544 voting members the first week of November and 5,045 or 66.87 percent were returned, the union reported.

'We do not feel that this means that our members like this contract,' said Jim Monroe, Executive Director of the 10,500-member MAPE. 'This is not a good or a fair contract, and does not represent the true value of our members' hard work for the citizens of this state.'

The new contract includes 3 percent across-the-board raises each year of the two-year contract. However, the contract also withholds discretionary 'step' increases to three quarters of MAPE members from Jan. 1, 2002, to Dec. 31, 2002.

After a tentative agreement ending a 14-day strike was reached on Oct. 14, informational meetings were held with members throughout the state. Balloting via mail was completed on Nov. 19. The votes were counted Wednesday by the American Arbitration Association.

In September, slightly more than 84 percent of voting members rejected the state's offer and authorized a strike - 2 percent across-the-board raises each year, but cost shifts of $30 million in health care would have eaten up much of that for some MAPE members. The MAPE Board of Directors authorized a strike that began at 6 a.m. on Oct. 1. MAPE members returned to work on Oct. 15 after the MAPE Negotiations Team and the Board of Directors decided to send the latest offer to the membership for a vote.

For more information

MAPE website: http://www.mape.org