ASF exists for the benefit of its members. Thanks to fair and firm negotiations with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, union benefits have steadily grown over years. Below is a quick review of what ASF offers:
- Good Salaries: Despite occasionally difficult economic conditions, ASF has negotiated salaries that compare favorably with all other state unions.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Group insurance benefits include medical, dental, short- and long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, and life. Paid time off includes vacation, sick days, personal days, a floating holiday, bereavement leave, plus jury duty and military leaves. Retirement benefits include state retirement plans and supplemental retirement, plus options for additional deferred compensation.
- Growth Opportunities: ASF contracts provide Professional Development Funds for members to attend seminars, workshops, conferences and classes, and to pay for professional memberships and educational material. Members may also apply for additional Professional Improvement Funds through a competitive grant program. Tuition waivers and tuition reimbursement support continuing education. Paid sabbaticals are available for members with at least six years of service. Members can also apply for a variety of Teamster scholarships for themselves and their dependent children.
- Voice: ASF representatives meet regularly in “Meet & Confer” sessions with upper level management, with Presidents and Vice Presidents on the local campuses and with the Chancellor and their Cabinet members at the state level.
- Participation: ASF members can serve as union officers or representatives on university and system committees and task forces. They have input in contract negotiations every two years, and vote in local and state officer elections, on constitution and bylaw changes, and union position statements. ASF members have established professional credibility with management who seek out their expertise.
- Leverage: Unions derive strength from the size and activity of their membership. People, management, legislators and others pay more attention to concerns expressed by organizations with sizable memberships. ASF also has strong backing from the influential International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).
- Job Protection: The union contract safeguards against unfair termination. If a position has been identified for layoff, ASF leadership will meet with management to explore alternative solutions. If a position is eliminated, the ASF contract requires non-renewal notice, providing time to conduct a job search while still employed.
- Advocacy: If you feel the contract has been violated and you are being treated unfairly, ASF stewards and grievance officers will stand by you in filing a grievance and representing your interests.
- Dues: Membership dues are 2.5 hours of pay per month rounded to the nearest dollar, plus an assessment of $2.89 per pay period (26 pay periods per year). Only members of the association are eligible to serve as officers or as representatives on committees and task forces and to participate as voting members of the association.
Benefits Summary
Insurance Eligibility
Newly eligible employees have 35 days for which to enroll in insurance coverage. The coverage takes effect on the 36th calendar day of employment.- Eligible for Full Employer Contribution toward Insurance: Employees who are employed at least 75 percent time for 9 months or more are eligible for the full employer contribution toward health, dental and basic life insurance.
- Eligible for Partial Employer Contribution toward Insurance: Employees who are employed at least 50 percent time but less than 75 percent time for 9 months or more are eligible for a partial employer contribution equal to 75 percent of the full employer contribution toward health, dental and basic life insurance.
Retirement
Employees with appointments of at least 25% time participate (if under age 65) on a pre-tax basis in the retirement program. Options include: immediate vesting in the defined contribution retirement plan (IRAP); or vesting after three years in the Teachers Retirement Association (TRA), a defined benefit plan. Effective with the fiscal year following two years of full-time employment, the employee contributes and the university matches 5% of annual salary up to $2,200 per year for the employee’s participation in the Supplemental Retirement Plan. See MSUAASF Contract Article 12. Employees seeking other pre-tax savings programs have the option to participate in either a 403(b) tax sheltered annuity program and/or in a 457 deferred compensation program. Both provide a choice of investments for retirement savings. For more information about retirement options, please visit: https://www.minnstate.edu/system/working/docs/benefits/retirement_brochure.pdfPaid Leaves
- Vacation – 6.75 hours/pay period to begin, with accrual increasing with years of service.
- Sick leave – 4 hours/pay period.
- Personal Leave – Up to 4 days each fiscal year after 6 months of service.