Tentative Agreement Secured - Oct. 10th
Our union-member led bargaining team secured a tentative agreement on a fair pay plan package in pre-budget bargaining with the governor’s team. Here are the toplines:
- A $1.00 per hour–or 2.5%–raise whichever is greater in each of the next two years
- Maintained insurance costs for the single member
- Increased per diems to 70% of the standard federal rate
- No over reach into our locally bargained contracts.
Now's the time to pass for all of us to work together to pass it through the 2025 Legislature!
Aug. 29th Update:
On Thursday, Aug. 29th, the governor's bargaining team presented their opening offer:
- An increase in the State’s monthly contribution to the health benefit plan to $1080 for the 2026 plan year and $1107 for the 2027 plan year, and a requirement for each single employee to contribute $0.75 per month.
- Currently, the State contributes $1054 per month and the single employee pays nothing.
- A wage increase of $0.50 per hour or 1.5% (whichever is greater), effective in both July 2025 & 2026.
- A proposed increase to the meal per diem based on 70% of the standard federal rate.
- Lastly, the governor’s team attempted to over-reach into local union bargaining by proposing language changes for every local collective bargaining agreement’s probationary periods, over-time, and grievance procedures.
- The bargaining team strongly objected to this type of over-reach.
It will take all of us to respond to this low-ball opener!
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June 20th Update:
After listening to MFPE member concerns, priorities, and needs, our MFPE bargaining team put together and presented an initial bargaining proposal. Our MFPE bargaining initial proposal includes:
- An increase of $3.00/hr or 6% (whichever is greater) to employee salaries in 2025
- An increase of $3.00/hr or 6% (whichever is greater) to employee salaries in 2026
- An additional increase to longevity of 1.5% for each 10, 15, 20, or 25 years of uninterrupted service
- A monthly increase from the employer of $446 to each employee’s health benefit coverage, bringing the employer’s contribution to $1500 per month
- An increase in per diem meal reimbursement to $12 for a morning meal, $15 for a midday meal, and $21 for an evening meal
- Increasing the State’s share covering the cost of this package for the Montana University System to 77%
- Commence and engage in on-going conversations between MFPE and the administration regarding locality pay for those residing and working in high cost of living communities
- Commence and engage in on-going conversations between MFPE and the administration regarding paid caregiver leave.
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Last year...
In 2023, MFPE members’ last pre-budget bargaining process resulted in historic an historic pay plan. It took hard work at the bargaining table and thousands of conversations with legislators to win:
- $1.50/hr or 4% wage increase July 1st, 2023
- Another $1.50/hr or 4% wage increase this coming July 1st
- A freeze to any out-of-pocket health insurance expense increases until 2025
- $1,000 retention bonus
Now, MFPE members are back fighting for another fair pay plan. The MFPE Pay Plan Action Team is how members working at the State and in the Montana University System can support our MPFE member-led bargaining team. Together, we will:
- Host worksite meetings to discuss bargaining proposals and updates
- Ask our co-workers who haven't joined MFPE yet to stand with us by becoming members
- Make sure your colleagues who haven't joined yet know they can become full members anytime this summer but their dues won't begin until September. Direct them to this membership form.
- Increase public visibility and build support around bargaining and in the run up to the legislature
