Montana lawmakers set to consider state employee pay plan in 2023 session

HELENA — Final week, Gov. Greg Gianforte and public worker unions introduced an settlement on a brand new pay plan for state staff, however it’s going to nonetheless have to win approval from the Montana Legislature in the course of the upcoming 2023 session.

The Gianforte administration, the Montana Federation of Public Workers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers launched an preliminary define of their proposal on Friday. In every of the subsequent two fiscal years, it will present staff with a elevate of $1.50 an hour or 4%, whichever is larger. It might additionally present a further one-time cost of as much as $1,040 for every worker, and it will freeze prices for single members’ well being advantages.

The administration and unions mentioned their plan will assist handle points just like the rising value of residing and the problem of filling vacant positions. They’ll subsequent should make that case to lawmakers.

“Within the Legislature, the governor at all times proposes; the Legislature disposes,” mentioned Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, who chaired the Appropriations Committee final session. The committee is accountable for listening to all spending payments and doing a lot of the work on the state finances.

Jones mentioned he likes the essential construction of the pay plan, although a lot will rely on the ultimate particulars. He mentioned the break up between a flat elevate and a share improve may gain advantage lower-income staff who’ve been hit arduous by inflation and supply larger wage bumps for positions the state is having bother recruiting for. He mentioned there’s been extra competitors for the state to fill jobs like engineers and IT professionals, since they will typically work remotely.

“I’ve little question that with 150 totally different folks within the Legislature, there’s no simple course for any motion,” Jones mentioned. “However I do imagine most individuals acknowledge that there’s wage stress on the bottom, like we now have not seen for many years.”

Senate Minority Chief Jill Cohenour, D-East Helena, mentioned the plan might not have all the pieces her occasion wished, however she believes it was negotiating course of between the governor and the unions. She expects Democrats to face behind the end result the 2 sides got here up with.

“I’ve been actually involved about how gradual authorities has been to react to the necessity for will increase in wages for public workers,” she mentioned. “These are the parents that principally stored the state operating all in the course of the pandemic. They labored so arduous to keep up crucial providers in communities throughout the state of Montana, and so they should have a good settlement that acknowledges them for the work that they’ve completed to maintain the state of Montana going.”

This proposal is considerably larger than latest negotiated pay plans. In 2021, the Legislature accepted a single 55-cent improve that may take impact this November. In 2019, they accepted 50-cent raises for 2 consecutive years.

Jones mentioned he believes most Republicans will see a necessity for a pay improve.

“Actually the Republican caucus will wish to be as conservative as potential, it’ll actually wish to ensure that authorities’s working as effectively as potential,” he mentioned. “But it surely’s additionally not misplaced on Republicans – particularly employers comparable to myself, and numerous the caucus do make use of of us – that within the instances of 8% and 9% inflation, you’re going to have to have the ability to pay a wage that enables your workers to be just right for you.”

Cohenour mentioned she’s hopeful lawmakers will acknowledge that the state has robust revenues coming in, and so they’ll help placing a few of that towards state workers.

“I’m excited and I’m thrilled with the truth that the governor’s workplace is bearing in mind the truth that we expect that we now have the cash ongoing to offer these will increase,” she mentioned. “I do hope that we’re additionally taking a look at future will increase for public workers that may notice what’s taking place within the economic system and the inflation that’s hitting these union households in communities throughout Montana.”