Ratify Now!

St. Paul, Minnesota

Close to 700 AFSCME members of Council 6 gathered at the state capitol on March 7 to lobby for the ratification of the state employees’ contract.

More than 300 members of Locals 280 1574, 2385, 3142, 2829 and 3801 met with Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe and Sens. Dan Samuelson and Linda Scheid. All three Democratic lawmakers agreed that the collective bargaining process should be respected and the employees’ contract approved. Ratification has been delayed because the Republican-controlled House opposes a provision that grants health care insurance to same-sex domestic partners. Also on Lobby Day, members met with House leaders to discuss funding for K-12 education. (Minnesota school districts are facing hundreds of layoffs because of budget problems.) Says Peter Benner, Council 6 executive director and an International vice president: "We are actively working on solutions to minimize that impact."