ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is defending new contracts for more than 27,000 state employees ahead of a legislative panel’s vote.
Dayton called the contracts “reasonable” and in line with those negotiated by his Republican predecessor, Tim Pawlenty, in a letter Wednesday to the lead Republicans on the Subcommittee on Employee Relations.
READ MORE: Jaleel Stallings To Receive $1.5M Settlement From MinneapolisThe subcommittee is scheduled to vote on the contracts Thursday after Republicans who control the panel expressed disappointment with the terms at a hearing three weeks ago.
The contracts include a 2 percent raise for all state workers.
READ MORE: Papaya PetiteA no vote would hold up the contracts until the full Legislature can vote next year.
Dayton is accusing the Republicans of “trying to drive a wedge between public and private sector employees.”
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