Ramsey County Signs MOA to Protect Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic

Brothers and Sisters,

This morning all AFSCME Ramsey County locals agreed to a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Ramsey County in regard to COVID-19 related issues. The MOA includes Paid Extraordinary Pandemic Event Leave (PEPEL).

We feel that this is a good start, but we are aware that it does not address every possible situation that may arise. We have gotten a commitment from the county that they will work with us to address any issues that may arise in regard to the pandemic. County Manager Ryan O’Connor will be sending the full MOA out tomorrow.

If you feel that the MOA is not being adhered to in your workplace, please reach out to one of your local stewards.

Here are some facts we wanted to make you aware of before the County Manager’s communication:

  • Ramsey County will make 80 PEPEL hours available to employees for the following reasons. These hours do not come out of your accruals. You will also accrue time under PEPEL.
  1. Employee COVID Illness
  2. Dependent, or family member in home COVID illness
  3. Lack of childcare related to COVID
  4. High risk for COVID per the CDC - covers self, or family in home
  5. COVID exposure and quarantine directed by MDH
  • If you cannot return to work after 80 hours of PEPEL time, you then have to use your accruals. You do NOT have to exhaust both accrual banks of sick and vacation. You can use either one or both.
  • If you still cannot return and accruals are exhausted, you can request up to an additional 80 hours of any combination of either sick time or vacation time. (Vacation time will typically be paid back quicker.)
  • This time will need to be paid back with future accruals, but you can also use comp time to pay it back.

After you receive communication from the County Manager tomorrow and have read the document, please feel free to reach out to your local leadership if you have questions.


In Solidarity,

Tim Blase – President Local 8
Dawn Flores – President Local 151
Eric Praml – President Local 707
Diane Lindquist – President Local 1076
Jim Kurkowski – President Local 1935