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St. Cloud State University
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IFO reviews state contract
By Carol Seavey
Published:
Monday, November 25, 2002
The Inter Faculty Organization (IFO) hopes legislators will approve its contract with MnSCU in the coming session.
There is some speculation that the contract may be rejected or altered, based on insurance benefits for same sex domestic partners.
“Our concern is that there not be any changes made to the contract,” said IFO President James Pehler. “Hopefully, they will understand what this contract needs.”
Representatives from IFO and MnSCU (Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system) have already negotiated the contract. State legislators will review it in January. They have the right to reject it.
“The feeling is really strong for us and the chancellor (of MnSCU) that this is the final negotiated contract,” Pehler said. “Both sides agreed to it and there is integrity of the negotiated contract that needs to be withheld.”
IFO is a union for faculty members of the seven Minnesota state universities. The other large unions for state employees include the American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE). Every two years the unions have a new contract. The Department of Employee Relations (DOER) negotiates contracts with all of the unions before they go to state legislators.
Under the direction of Gov. Jesse Ventura, DOER added insurance benefits for same sex domestic partners to the contracts.
Contracts for IFO, AFSCME and MAPE were not approved by the legislature.
The contracts were eventually put into effect even though they weren’t completely approved.
The contracts are expected to be negotiated this spring.
“By the time they get around to it, it’ll be expired,” said Andrew Larkin, SCSU Faculty Association president.
The contracts expire this summer and negotiating for new contracts will begin at that time.
“All of the groups have negotiated,” Larkin said. “But with the new republican government, the governor may reject the contract.”
With a now largely republican legislature and new republican governor Tim Pawlenty, DOER may not be asked to add insurance benefits for same sex partners to contracts again. It may be up to the individual union whether they want to include such benefits.
Another major factor in the IFO contract is the request for pay raises.
“We need pay raises in order to maintain and attract good faculty,” Larkin said.
When the state doesn’t agree on new contracts, employees are paid as per the old contract until an agreement is made. During that time, the state can collect interest on that money. When an agreement is made, employees receive back pay. However, the state keeps whatever interest was earned.
IFO members want to see the contract pass with the pay raises and benefits for same sex partners.
“We need this (contract) in order to treat people fairly,” Larkin said “We can’t just provide benefits to opposite sex partners, we need benefits for same sex partners, too.”
There has been discussion about what IFO members will do if the contract is rejected. Over the next two weeks, the IFO board of directors will be discussing its options.
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