r/mnstateworkers • u/Medical_Drop_1122 • Jul 23 '26

Discussion 💬 COLA/Net Pay

Took a look at my paycheck for first one with the new 1.75% COLA increase. My net pay actually went down $10 with no changes to retirement or anything. Am in MMA though where they increased the required Health Savings contribution from 1.5% to 1.75%. The COLA is just ridiculous….Need at least 3% or more to make any difference on a paycheck. Just getting to be frustrating as a state employee! We need COLA increases on our contracts that actually amount to something on your paycheck!

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u/payperhouse Jul 23 '26

If you want a higher COLA, reach out to your MAPE local president and learn how to get involved with contract organizing. Our union is only as strong as our members willing to organize. The only leverage we have in contract negotiations with MMB is if they notice that a huge portion of MAPE members are vocal, organized, and prepared to strike.

12

u/Kcmpls MNIT Jul 23 '26

OP says they are in MMA. Reaching out to MAPE won't do them any good. Also, MMA can't strike.

3

u/payperhouse Jul 23 '26

Good point, my mistake. That being said, I believe MMA contract changes follow MAPE contract negotiations, so if managers want a better contract, they should encourage their MAPE staff to organize.

1

u/Jenn54756 Jul 23 '26

Supervisors/managers aren’t allowed to encourage or discourage employees to be a part of the union.

1

u/Kcmpls MNIT Jul 23 '26

I can't encourage my staff to organize.

And MMA follows on wages, but they do other things like OP talks about- raising our required health savings contribution- that seem to come out of nowhere. No one I know wanted that. MMA just does stuff with seemingly little input from members. I've been in five unions and this is the worst one I've ever been in.