Minnesota Unions Approve Contract, Raises for State Workers

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ Members of Minnesota's two massive public employee
unions have ratified a new, two-year contract for the state's 30,000-plus
workers.

The contracts for the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees and AFSCME Council 5 call for a 2 percent raise this year and a 2.5 percent raise in 2018. The results of the vote were announced Tuesday after a union election that began in early August.

AFSCME Council 5 Executive Director Eliot Seide calls it a fair contract with
modest raises. But they require legislative approval.

Rep. Steve Drazkowski is a member of a key subcommittee that approves union
contracts. The Mazeppa Republican says he's concerned about whether the state
can afford to cover the raises.

The contract also includes six-week paid parental leave.