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State contracts ratification

Published (5/15/2009)
By Nick Busse
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Public employees’ salaries came into question before the House voted to ratify a number of state labor contracts.

Passed by the House 103-29 on May 12, HF1218/SF1036* would ratify contracts negotiated by Minnesota Management and Budget and various state employee bargaining units. Affected groups include Minnesota State Colleges and Universities faculty and staff, the State Board of Investment and the Minnesota Nurses Association. The Senate passed the measure 49-16 on May 7. The bill awaits gubernatorial action.

Sponsored by Rep. Leon Lillie (DFL-North St. Paul) and Senate President James Metzen (DFL-South St. Paul), the bill deals mostly with contracts that Lillie said were “left hanging” after the 2008 legislative session because of arbitration and other factors.

“These are the governor’s negotiated contracts,” Lillie explained, trying to stave off criticism of the bill. Nevertheless, some members argued the agreed-to salaries do not reflect the current economic downturn.

Referring to a provision that would authorize a 10 percent raise for State Board of Investment employees, Rep. Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan) called it “unconscionable” to raise state workers’ salaries at a time of record unemployment.

“We are not a rubber-stamp organization, members; we’re here to do the right thing. And if you consider voting for a 10 percent increase for state employees when the rest of the state of Minnesota is hurting, then I don’t think you understand the idea of the whole concept.”

Rep. Lyndon Carlson, Sr. (DFL-Crystal) explained that it is an executive-branch initiative to retain “top-notch people” responsible for investing state pension funds.

Others argued that no matter what the current economic climate, lawmakers ought to respect the executive branch’s negotiation process.

“Obviously, the whole situation we’re in right now is very different from what it was last summer,” said Rep. Morrie Lanning (R-Moorhead). “Nonetheless, we entered into good faith negotiations. … Those contracts were approved, and those contracts are now before us for ratification.”

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