|
| Date: | April 27, 2012 | | Contact Name: | Susan Closmore | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5712 | | Contact Email: | susan.closmore@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
|
| Governor Stalls Contract Negotiation Efforts |
St.Paul- Governor Mark Dayton halted efforts by lawmakers Friday to create a balance in relative bargaining power between public employees and their employer.
The state and most of its employees are currently operating under expired agreements. It is the stated public policy of Minnesota that unresolved disputes between the state and its employees are injurious to the public as well as to the parties, and that adequate means must be established for minimizing them and providing for their resolution. It is with this spirit that Senator Mike Parry (R-Waseca) authored Senate File 2078 (HF 1974).
The Dayton administration has interpreted the language of the expired contracts to continue progression increases and growth in employer health costs indefinitely. With that kind of interpretation, permanent increases provide no incentive at all for a new collective bargaining agreement.
“This is yet another startling indication that the Governor, at the beck and call of union allies, is slow-walking contract negotiations in hopes of delaying agreement for his political special interests. My bill would have created a level playing field for all parties involved and would foster agreement. Once again, Governor Dayton is more interested in helping his union pals move forward while shifting the cost onto backs of hardworking Minnesota citizens,” said Senator Parry.
###
