Questions From The Trenches

Common Questions on the Ratified Health Care and Wage Agreement

 

Who was involved in bargaining of the ratified health care and wage agreement?

 

The recent negotiations that attained our now ratified joint wage and health care agreement was a collective effort of all support staff unions on campus bargaining with the University at one time at the same table. APA/MEA UniServ Director, Melanie Waltz, served as the co-chief negotiator for all unions.

What topics were discussed during negotiations?

The wage and health care agreement is limited in scope. Therefore, all parties negotiating the agreement only discussed and addressed matters directly related to health care and annual base wages.

Now that the agreement is ratified, will a fully funded base health care plan continue?

 

Yes. Under the ratified agreement, the MSU base health care plan will remain fully funded, with no premium directly paid by APA members for single, double, and family coverage, through December 31, 2021.

How does the matrix formula work to determine my annual base wage increase?

 

The matrix in the ratified agreement defines the formula for the annual APA raises commencing with the October 2019 base wage increase.  For example using the matrix, if health care costs increase by 4.75% in the first year of the agreement, APA members would maintain fully funded health care with no monthly premium share and be eligible for a 2.2% base wage increase in October 2019, subject to the standard contract provisions of 40% across the board and 60% using the merit pay process.

What are the APA base wage increases in the coming years?

 

The following annual base wage increases are subject to the standard APA contract provisions of 40% across the board and 60% using the merit pay process:

 

October 2017 – 1.9% base wage increase

October 2018 – 2.6% maximum base wage increase to be determined under

   the current/old matrix formula

October 2019 – 2.75% maximum base wage increase through matrix formula

October 2020 – 2.75% maximum base wage increase through matrix formula

October 2021 – 2.75% maximum base wage increase through matrix formula

October 2022 – 2.75% maximum base wage increase through matrix formula

Who should I call with my additional questions?

APA members should feel free to contact the APA office at 517.999.4004 or via email at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.