A Word from our President 

 By Martin McDonough, MSU APA President 

Wages and Health Care Negotiations  

Our current fully funded healthcare benefits are defined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MSU and the Coalition of Labor at MSU that includes APA/MEA. This MOU is set to expire December 31, 2021, so the negotiations for a successor agreement will start soon. The only issues in these negotiations are your healthcare coverage and October raise. A link to a Health Care survey was recently provided to members. It is important for members to complete that survey so the negotiating team can represent them well.  

These negotiations are expected to continue into this summer. When there is a tentative agreement, that agreement will be brought to the membership for a ratification vote. An official ratification notification will be sent to all members in good standing. Prior to that vote, there will be information sessions.  

The APA community has made great strides in the last year. The most visible gains have been our initial Furlough Letter of Agreement (LOA) and the subsequent extension agreement. By negotiating these agreements, the APA/MEA provided unprecedented job security and the promise of continued health care coverage to APA bargaining unit members who would have otherwise been laid off and would have lost insurance.  The APA also turned back the University’s strong effort to invoke a permanent salary reduction to all APA positions as well as a permanent 50% reduction in the retirement contribution. Working together is important for everyone’s future.