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Early negotiations-not a go

By Molly Malecki

As reported in the April newsletter, the AFSCME locals at Hennepin County made a tentative proposal to the employer. This was an informal, test the water, proposal that was not typical of the way negotiations have been done before. The main motivator was the threatened pay freeze to all public employees.

The negotiating teams felt they had made a conservative, realistic proposal, considering the current budget crisis in the state. Apparently the employer did not feel that the proposal was conservative or realistic enough. The response did not lend itself to our recommending approval to our members.

Negotiations will now proceed in the same format that we have used in the past. The master teams will meet on May 29 to begin drafting a proposal. Negotiations will begin formally late in the summer. Members who have issues they want brought to the negotiations should contact an E-board member as soon as possible!