TOGETHER WE WIN: STATE OF MICHIGAN WORKERS WIN WAGE INCREASES, PROTECT HEALTH CARE

State of Michigan workers won a 3 percent wage increase in 2017 and a 2 percent increase for 2018 in their contract that had reopener language to discuss wage increases and health care.

“The bargaining team was successful not only in winning the two wage increases, but we also defended our health care and kept the plan as is,” said Local 6000 President Ed Mitchell.

Local 6000, which represents 15,000 state workers in administrative support and human services functions, ratified the agreement by a 98 percent margin in November. The contract expires Dec. 31, 2018.

Negotiators discussed the effect of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on their health care and the potential for the plan being subject to the ACA’s excise tax. However, because of the uncertainty surrounding the tax and the entire ACA, it was decided that any changes would be discussed and implemented through the parties’ Joint Health Care Committee, with an eye toward finding ways to keep costs under the excise tax threshold.