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Contract approvedOn December 4, 2003, by a two-thirds majority of those voting, the AFSCME Local 2822 contract with Hennepin County for 2004 and 2005 was ratified. The negotiating Table Team and Master Team had made no recommendation as to how the members should vote. The initial proposal from the employer was one of the most insulting in anyone's recent memory. The final proposal was disrespectful to those who give their best day after day doing the work of the county. More work will be piled on as vacancies are not filled. The cost of living will continue to rise, but Hennepin County employees will slide further backward. The Table Team takes some satisfaction in that there were no take-aways, as had been proposed. But there is dissatisfaction that no cost of living increase could be attained. Hennepin County has stated it wants to be the "Employer of Choice," apparently for its Administrator and CFO at HCMC. But clerical workers who are working well below a living wage don't figure into that design. The lesson that has to be learned from this round of negotiations: next time, we have to be ready to not take this again. We have to learn how to put pressure on our legislators and county board members. We have to start saving for a strike. We have to mean business, and they have to know it. |