State employee prebudget negotiations begin

Feb. 2008 - "It's at the top of our priority list." That's how MEA-MFT President Eric Feaver describes the state employee prebudget negotiations process that begins this winter.

In letters to the director of labor relations for the Schweitzer Administration and the Montana Board of Regents, MEA-MFT requested the opening of statewide economic negotiations over salary and benefits for state employees and faculty union members across the state.

The goal is to conclude salary settlements well in advance of the 2009 legislative session.

Prebudget bargaining is the process used to negotiate state employee salary and benefit increases with the administration before the legislature meets.

By reaching agreement early, salary settlements are included in the governor's budget that is submitted to the legislature. That allows state employees and the administration to jointly lobby the legislature for approval of the pay settlement package during the legislative session.

MEA-MFT Field Consultant Tom Burgess, who heads the MEA-MFT state employee team, noted that over 45 MEA-MFT and Montana Public Employees Association (MPEA) members will be involved in the state employee unions' joint negotiating team.

"This is a very exciting process; it involves gathering input from thousands of state employees and putting it into a bargaining package to present to the state," he said.

Burgess explained that the prebudget process was successful in the past because union members stayed involved.

"Before the last two sessions, we negotiated good raises that the legislature left intact. I credit the members of the bargaining team and all our state employee members for their level of commitment and dedication to staying informed and involved," he said.

One of the issues identified as a priority is ending the practice of discounting the market survey of state employees by 15 percent.

"We reject the idea that state employees should pay a "scenery tax" for living in Montana. If the state is going to use a market-based system of pay, it needs to be a fair market, not a substandard one," said Feaver.

How you can help: State employees should contact their local union leaders to get involved in the prebudget process, according to Burgess. "We will be reaching out to find out what members think and keep them involved and in the loop. Stay tuned for how to help."

To learn more about the prebudget process, contact Tom Burgess (tburgess@mea-mft.org, 442.4250, or 800.398.0826).

Read more about prebudget bargaining