June 29, 2007

'Push week' update 4: Slight movement in negotiations

There has been slight movement in negotiations for a new two-year contract for MAPE members. The governor's team increased its across-the-board (ATB) wage proposal Thursday to 1.75 percent and later in the day increased it to 2 percent per year.

Don’t accept a pay cut! State employees deserve a wage increase to cover inflation, not a pay cut!

There are progression steps for both years of the contract.

The huge gap between the cost of health-care proposals still remains. The governor’s team proposes massive health-care cost shifts that could mean an estimated $1,300 in additional out-of-pocket drug and medical costs for family coverage. This would increase nearly all copays and deductibles.

The negotiating sessions have been long all week. Thursday's 22-hour marathon session stretched until sunrise Friday morning. The last of the large-team, face-to-face negotiating sessions was held Thursday. Negotiations continue between small teams with the mediators from the Bureau of Mediation Services.

The MAPE Negotiations Team is in this for the long haul and is prepared to continue throughout the weekend in order to get MAPE members the best possible agreement.