Raises for nearly 50,000 state and university employees, MAPE union salaries up 11% since January 2013

MNStateVia MPR News: Minnesota’s two largest government unions have won a 5% salary increase over the next two years.

The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE ) negotiated with the state of Minnesota for a 2.5% annual increase for each of the next two years.  There are 30,000 employees between the two government unions.

AFSCME Council 5 spent over $865000 lobbying the state legislature in 2013-2014.  The union is a part of the Minnesota AFL-CIO which spent $720,000 lobbying in 2013-2014. MAPE spent $140,000 during the same two years.

MAPE’s website touts their collective bargaining success which has resulted in salary increases of 11% since the beginning of 2013.  An employee making $50,000 per year in December of 2012, will be making $55,459 annually starting this July 1st.

Rep Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazzeppa, took to Facebook to question the secret meetings that took place and how state departments would be able to meet the new labor costs:

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The University of Minnesota also hiked salaries for employees as Alpha News reported last week. The Board of Regents approved a new budget that includes a 2% general wage increase for all University employees.   Duluth and Crookston campus faculty had previously negotiated a 2.5% salary increase.  There are over 19,000 employees at the University of Minnesota.

 

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The Minnesota State College and University system negotiated a 7% wage increase over two-years for faculty members last summer.

Private sector wage growth has hovered around 2% over the last two years.