MN House Ratifies State Employee Contracts; Senate Must Ratify

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Max Hall
(612) 247-3725

[email protected]

AFSCME Council 5 Commends MN House Ratification of State Employee Contracts, Urges Senate to Ratify

South St. Paul, MN - AFSCME Council 5 Executive Director Julie Bleyhl released the following statement after the Minnesota House voted 107-24 to ratify the collective bargaining agreement of more than 20,000 AFSCME Council 5 members:

"AFSCME Council 5 thanks the Minnesota House for doing their legislative duty and swiftly passing the AFSCME collective bargaining agreements for the more than 20,000 state executive branch employees we proudly represent. We urge the Minnesota Senate to not delay the passage of these contracts and fulfill their obligation under the law to ratify collective bargaining agreements as they are presented without political interference.

"During the 2020 legislative session, Minnesota Senate Republicans voted to cut 20,000 state employees’ pay by 2.5%. When two Republican lawmakers filed a lawsuit in court to invalidate 20,000 of our members’ sacred collective bargaining agreements, Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota Management and Budget, AFSCME and other labor unions’ fought back and ultimately led to the district court's full dismissal of their attempt to cut workers’ pay. This was a major victory for workers who Make Minnesota Happen and ensure our communities are safe and thriving."

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