Members of six AFSCME locals who work for Hennepin County have ratified new two-year contracts that provide a 2.5 percent wage increase each year for each worker.
Initially, the County only proposed a wage increase for workers at the top of the pay scale, reported Jean Diederich, president of AFSCME Local 34.
As a show of solidarity, AFSCME members collected more than 2,200 postcards before the last negotiation session asking Hennepin County board members to support a wage increase for all workers.
“We had people calling and saying, ‘where is my card, I want to sign it,’’ Diederich said.
In addition to the wage increase, workers not at the top of the pay scale will be eligible for step increases when they have their annual review.
This contract win was significant, Diederich said. “Not only have we had our wages frozen five out of the past 10 years,” but workers not at the top of the pay scale had received no step increases for three years.
Standing firm in seeking a wage increase for everyone “unified employees,” Diederich said. “It unified AFSCME members standing for a common goal. We said, ‘yes, we want everybody to get a raise.’ We stood together — that was the biggest win of the contract.”
For the lowest paid workers, the contract provides for a lump sum cash payment of $350 to help offset costs of increases health insurance premiums.
The contract covers approximately 4,000 workers in six AFSCME locals.
Members of six AFSCME locals who work for Hennepin County have ratified new two-year contracts that provide a 2.5 percent wage increase each year for each worker.
Initially, the County only proposed a wage increase for workers at the top of the pay scale, reported Jean Diederich, president of AFSCME Local 34.
As a show of solidarity, AFSCME members collected more than 2,200 postcards before the last negotiation session asking Hennepin County board members to support a wage increase for all workers.
“We had people calling and saying, ‘where is my card, I want to sign it,’’ Diederich said.
In addition to the wage increase, workers not at the top of the pay scale will be eligible for step increases when they have their annual review.
This contract win was significant, Diederich said. “Not only have we had our wages frozen five out of the past 10 years,” but workers not at the top of the pay scale had received no step increases for three years.
Standing firm in seeking a wage increase for everyone “unified employees,” Diederich said. “It unified AFSCME members standing for a common goal. We said, ‘yes, we want everybody to get a raise.’ We stood together — that was the biggest win of the contract.”
For the lowest paid workers, the contract provides for a lump sum cash payment of $350 to help offset costs of increases health insurance premiums.
The contract covers approximately 4,000 workers in six AFSCME locals.