Team MAPE supports MAPE friendly candidates and legislation. Our issue priorities include: achieving fair compensation for state employees, fixing our broken health care system, preventing outsourcing and privatization of state services and protecting our pension and retirement benefits.

Contact legislatators and tell them to oppose HF 1974

Submitted by kkillian on February 13, 2012 - 3:17pm

House File 1974, which would tamper with our collectively bargained contract, will be heard in committee this week. The measure, authored by Representative Steve Drazkowski, will receive a hearing Wednesday at 10:15 AM in House Government Operations and Elections. Click here to contact legislators and tell them to oppose HF 1974.

Last year the government shutdown forced thousands of state employees to lose over 5% of their annual income, while many legislators continued to get paid. Ongoing budget debates put a serious strain on state employees and our families.

HF 1974 would make matters worse, not better.. This bill insinuates we as state employees are not negotiating in good faith. That is not accurate.

There is a simple reason why the dozen or so state employee contracts are still in negotiations: the 2011 state government shutdown. Preparations for the shutdown began over a year ago when legislative committees began holding precautionary hearings. The aftermath of the shutdown lasted for months. It was impossible to negotiate while the budget situation was in flux.

State employees did not cause the shutdown. Yet this bill essentially puts the blame our expired contract solely on state employees. That is wrong.

Simply put, the breakdown in negotiations between legislators and the Governor was to blame for the shutdown, not state employees. Thus legislators and the Governor are responsible for our drawn out contract negotiations. Punishing the victims will do nothing to help us heal and move forward.