State employees ratify two-year contracts

In results announced Monday, AFSCME said its members approved agreements with 85 percent voting in favor and MAPE said 92 percent of its members supported the pact.

The contracts, which take effect July 1, cover about 30,000 state workers. They beat back a range of concessions that Gov. Tim Pawlenty was seeking. Most notably, the contracts block the state’s attempt to impose pay cuts and up to 48 days of unpaid leave, AFSCME said.

The contracts maintain step increases in 2010, keep health insurance benefits at current levels, and give agencies the ability to minimize layoffs. Legislative approval of the contracts is pending.

For more information
Visit the MAPE, www.mape.org, and AFSCME, www.afscmemn.org, websites