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Pawlenty orders National Guard to prepare in case of strike
September 15, 2003

State employees walked the picket lines in 2001, the last time they went on strike. The state's largest employee unions begin voting Monday on a contract proposal that contains no across-the-board pay increases for two years. (MPR file photo)

St. Paul, Minn. — (AP) Gov. Tim Pawlenty has ordered the National Guard to begin training for work in nursing homes and other state care facilities in case of a state worker strike, his administration announced Monday.

Employee Relations Commissioner Cal Ludeman said the Guard's activation is one of several contingency plans being made. Pawlenty's executive order was signed Thursday.

Over the next two weeks, state government's two largest employee unions - the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 6 - will hold votes on contract offers the unions' leaderships oppose. Rejection of the offers would put the sides under pressure to reach a new deal or as many as 27,000 workers could strike.

"If state employees choose to go out on strike, we must be prepared to ensure that priority state operations will be maintained and that public safety and the protection of our vulnerable citizens is preserved," Ludeman said.

Two years ago, Guard members filled in at care centers when the two unions waged a two-week strike.

Ludeman also announced that nonstriking employees could be given temporary assignments and temporary help would be hired to take over other roles.

People remember they had lost paychecks. People remember they spent time on the picket lines. ... It's painful to strike - on all parties. It costs you money. It costs you trouble. It builds bad blood. - Ross Azevedo, labor relations expert at the U of M

Facing a projected $4.2 billion budget gap, legislators didn't set aside any additional money for pay and benefits for its roughly 48,000 employees. State negotiators say they were further pinched by rising health-care costs they figured would add $138.3 million to the personnel tab for 2004-05 if insurance plans stayed unchanged.

The resulting offers contain no across-the-board pay raises for two years, although some workers would be eligible for merit raises. But union members seem more troubled by a suggested benefits structure that would require some of them to pay more for family coverage, doctor visits, dental work, prescription drugs and other care.

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