Dear Fellow ASF/Teamster Member:
We have concluded another day of negotiations with MN State and your negotiating team. We have reached several tentative agreements, some of substantial change while others are more of a technical nature. Many of our remaining proposals are tied to economics. With the Legislature missing their budget deadline and having to go into special session June 14, we are unsure where MN State will end up with their budget. Anything can change until the final day and final agreement, but here are some of the tentative changes so far agreed to today:
- We have added a domestic partner benefit that includes coverage for sick leave, bereavement leave, and tuition waivers
- We have an improved definition of immediate family members that includes son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and current or former wards
- We have agreed that all money in the Article 16 Separation Incentive will now go to the Health Care Savings Plan which will be a huge tax savings for ASF members
- We have defined higher reimbursement rates for PDF travel beginning on July 1, 2022 (Administrative travel will be at the current rates we are using)
- We have an extended use of sick leave to cover ASF members who need to make arrangements for nursing home and hospice care for immediate family members
- We have language outlined (already in MN State statute) allowing ASF Members to take sick leave as safety leave for themselves or certain family members in circumstances of sexual assault, domestic abuse, or harassment or stalking
- We have an extended use of bereavement leave that allows the President/designee to allow more than 5 days to allow for extended travel, preparations, and dealing with legal matters regarding the deceased (which would come from accrued sick leave)
We meet again on June 29 as a full negotiations committee. Tomorrow, a small work group of Management and ASF will convene to start looking at the terms “department, program, and service area” which have no real definitions but have significant impacts throughout our contract.
State Insurance Bargaining
The statewide insurance committee has been meeting with SEGIP and have so far agreed to some minor changes. They include:
- Coverage for 3D mammograms
- Dental and vision insurance eligibility for spouses/dependents even if they don’t qualify for state medical insurance due to their own employer coverage
- Continued discussion with the Joint Labor Management group about expanding the health promotion program (currently only for diabetes) to possibly include smoking cessation, weight loss, stress management, and other health education programs
We have been able to hold off any changes to your emergency room benefit and major changes to the percentage of the premium paid by the state on your behalf.
That full committee meets again on June 7 and June 8. Anything not settled during those negotiations gets moved by consent to the MAPE and AFSCME push week that begins July 19.
Thank you for your continued support and interest in your contract! We will continue to keep you updated.
In solidarity,
Sami Gabriel (Teamsters Local 320 President/Business Agent & ASF Chief Negotiator)
Tracy Rahim (ASF Statewide President/Grievance Officer)
Your ASF Negotiations Team