Collective bargaining without common interest

A summary describing the oxymoron term collective bargaining might be a situation where "a group of employees are compelled to negotiate collectively as a single entity despite having significantly different job duties, work locations, or interests, making it challenging to effectively represent everyone's needs due to the lack of shared concerns within the group." 

Public opinion varies how much public revenue to dote on those foolish enough (brave enough?) to deliver public service. There is seldom variation on the need for higher pay among public employees themselves, considered collectively. Some might not be there voluntarily, a very few might choose to work for the public for free. Very few. But anytime payroll pie slices get cut  - watch out!

Ever notice that place all of Minnesota sends tax revenues consistently allots less aid, sets smaller budgets and avoids committing anything large and fiscal in the long term in direct proportion to mention of 'wildlife', 'north', 'greater', 'agro' or 'mining'? Why worry over milk and strategic minerals when at the place setting spending, an infamous advice seems to applied here regarding those who work at livelihoods involving cows or rocks, "Congratulations, you are on your own!"

After the COVID pandemic, the 2023-2025 master agreement for state workers in Minnesota did pass, but some experienced, tested professionals felt the largest-ever percentage pay raise for everyone was wasted on new hires, students and temps on the grounds tested and proven career civil servants experience status anxiety, feel less top dog and an identity threat at seeing increases handed-out equally, not proportionately less, on top of raised minimums also belatedly blessed those at minimum wage.

That is exactly how division works, makes sure AFSCUS is always AFSCME. Only when the divided detect differences do differences matter, and pay is promotion.  Selfish thoughts are irresistable, "I deserve a huge raise but  surely not unskilled, untested novices?"  This came as chaotic labor market adjustment resulted from non-negotiable emergency policies that abruptly emptied all state buildings of contagious personnel. Literally, last person out "Please turn off the lights, no fool would come back for the scut wages we pay."  

The COVID pandemic meant widespread mortal outcomes and debilitating, permanent health effects, but there were also less immediate economic effects, some severe. Many conscientious, dedicated and steadily employed earners and taxpayers, some supporting children, lost wages, jobs, savings, homes and family stability, became permanently economically precarious, with many forced to relocate. Of course this included state workers, part time or temp, on minimum wage.  Not every state worker can work remotely up there from some cloud. There always are workers who must show up, and do things AI bots cannot do.

Minimum waged state workers exist, are out there in front line, public-facing fields for healing, in facilities for veterans, or corrections, who take risks daily serving public needs, including keeping peace and order, or caring for sufferers of COVID. Lately there have been more, not less, mortal risks in jobs related to healthcare directly facing the public. Nurses, doctors, first responders, cops - sleepless, burned-out, on overtime, denied leave, ready to go on strike or on strike, some - God forbid - suicidal.

The PELRA act meant that over time, gradually, as everyone plainly saw their own self-interest in good benefits being something common to all, those core benefits came to be held reliably across multiple bargaining units and thereby were not given back or eroded by cost-shifts and inflation.  It was accepted there were basic common sections and articles negotiated for AFSCME-MN's state master agreement, mostly insurance benefit packages. 

But salaried professionals never saw the PELRA common multi-unit pattern as the dog to hunt for them.  Many salaried have, or can get, fixed per diem to reduce the grinding, toxic IRS minutiae of drudgerous paperwork mandatory to report waged overtime and expenses. In the early dawn of this country, the few early confederated states prior to the constitution's idea for a paid congress employed government's toilers as volunteers, but allowed per diem pay. Why care if health insurance costs keep increasing relentlessly, why should that matter to one who stands divided atop an additional zero on their paychecks?

This division is visible, but must be.... a typo?  Wage grids in the Council 5's State Agreement are headed "Salary Ranges." How many AFSCME draw a fixed salary? Sometime after 1983, an odd preamble twist emerged, a pattern out of place, not a welcome fit in a truly mutual agreement. Are both parties in the AFSCME state employee agreement enjoying an equal, mutual right to correct typo and errata things, in the master agreement, it's supplements and letters, in things like winter supplement agreements?

Only one time, once, shortly after everyone suffered through a world-changing pandemic, did a union signature appear on a winter snow and ice policy for MnDOT District One. You can wait until the cows come home, but no member will ever get to vote ACCEPT or STRIKE about a policy.