Hennepin County, AFSCME employees reach tentative deal, avert strike

Hennepin County and workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) reached a tentative agreement on a new contract Thursday, avoiding a potential strike.

Five of the seven bargaining units affiliated with AFSCME Council 5 ratified the county’s last and best offer in December, which included annual 2.5% wage increases over the course of the three-year deal, cash bonuses, expanded bereavement leave and 51 wage classification adjustments.

The two chapters that voted down the contract — AFSCME locals 34 and 2822, which represent more than 3,500 Hennepin County employees — filed intent to strike notices on Jan. 19, triggering a 10-day cooling-off period.

Those bargaining units tentatively agreed to a contract “consistent with” the county’s last and best offer on Thursday, a Hennepin County spokesperson said in a statement.

“Hennepin County is thankful for the hard work and good faith demonstrated by employees on both sides of the bargaining table,” the county said. “We are hopeful that Local 34 and Local 2822 will ratify this recommended Mediated Settlement Proposal.”

Ali Fuhrman, a spokesperson for AFSCME Local 2822, said the agreement included wiping out “paid leave debts” union workers owed the county for the past two years.

“The county created what’s called ‘negative leave’ for workers that didn’t have enough paid time for being sick, dealing with school closures or furloughs or other issues,” Fuhrman said in a statement. “This was a new offer and one that will greatly benefit our members.”

The unions withdrew their intent to strike notices as a result of the agreement.