Local AFSCME

workers vote

on contract offer

If not accepted, strike is possible

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Members of the state's largest union stopped by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regional headquarters in New Ulm Wednesday to vote on a state contract offer.

Public services could see strikes by employees statewide if the latest vote for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) goes the way its leaders want it to.

The leaders of the union, which is the largest representative of public employees in the state, are asking its 19,500 rank-and-file members to reject the state's latest offer.

AFSCME proposed a 6.5 percent wage increase per year in 2001 and 2002 for health care professionals, technicians and corrections guards, compared to the state's offer of 2.5 percent.

The union has also asked for a $1.70 per hour raise for craft and maintenance workers, service workers and clerical employees.

The state's proposal also asks AFSCME employees to shoulder a larger share of medical costs.

"What it really comes down to, is an issue of fairness," said AFSCME media representative Dan Dinndorf, from the union's state headquarters in South St. Paul. "State jobs are no longer the best jobs in the state."

Unions negotiators rejected the state's proposals earlier this month.

AFSCME employees include parks workers, DNR workers, state office clerks, University of Minnesota and MnSCU employees and public health employees.

State law prohibits law enforcement officers from striking, because they are essential to public safety.

The results of the statewide vote will be announced before Labor Day.

AFSCME staff must tally votes in districts before the union's leadership can make a decision.

Locally, AFSCME workers are concerned about the health benefits and wage increases, according to Scott Melby, AFSCME regional legislative director.

"We're not happy with the contract," said AFSCME Local 694 treasurer and DNR employee Lynne Paulson. "Basically, the issue is health insurance. It's going to deduct more out-of-pocket expenses, with higher deductibles."

"I'm single, but it's going to hit people with families more than me," Paulson said. "The pay increase is fine. The health care is our No. 1 concern."

MnDOT construction supervisor Leroy Bergness said the pay increase is his top concern.

"I'm a seasonal employee, so an increase is wages is going to be nice."

In Brown County, the bulk of AFSCME employees work for the DNR, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Flandrau State Park and Brown County District Court. The AFSCME region including Brown County also includes Fairmont, Gaylord, Blue Earth, Wells and Waseca.

This region was one of the first to vote in a statewide ballot that will end on Friday.

AFSCME business representative Bob Clegg said the turnout for this year's vote is higher than the New Ulm vote two years ago. By 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, 22 voters registered and voted. Last year's count totaled 18 voters. Clegg said the professional AFSCME members are voting by mail this year.

"People are responding to this thing with greater attention," Clegg said. "It's a different time. We're in a very unusual situation. The state, on the one hand, had a surplus but it hasn't given an appropriation to state agencies."

Clegg said the state offer is not in step with rising health care costs and, if accepted, will force AFSCME employees to take on a burden they previously did not shoulder.

"The union is asking voters to reject the contract, and it looks like they're going to do that," Clegg said.

The ballot for the vote has two choices marked in bold letters--ACCEPT and REJECT AND STRIKE. When the vote is announced, AFSCME's leaders will have 10 days to negotiate a contract with state mediators before calling a strike.

The last strike in Minnesota was in 1981, in which AFSCME employees struck for 22 days, but did not seriously affect state services .

AFSCME workers could strike as early as Sept. 17.