AUGUSTA – Unions representing most state workers have draft agreements before their members for a vote and lawmakers may be asked to approve, and fund, new contracts within a week

“I believe we will have the results sometime Tuesday,” said Gov. Angus King. “And if the agreements are ratified, and I certainly hope they are, the funding for the agreements is in the Part Two budget.”

Lawmakers have yet to consider any provisions of the Part Two, or new and expanded services, budget.

Just under $15 million is earmarked in the draft budget to pay for the agreements with the Maine State Employees Association, Council 93 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and the Maine State Troopers Association.

All three proposals have the same cost of living increases, but vary in some of the other provisions.

Workers covered by the agreements would get a 3 percent increase July 1, 2001, with additional 2 percent increases effective Jan. 1, 2002, and July 1, 2002.

“This is one of those things where neither side feels like gloating, which means it is probably a good compromise,” King said.

Carl Leinonen, executive director of the MSEA, said union members across the state have been attending meetings that concluded Thursday night with sessions in Bangor and Biddeford.

He said many of the nearly 11,000 workers represented by MSEA have expressed the desire for larger increases, but he expects most will support the agreement.

He said where there has been concern among members it has been over issues specific to their jobs, like how much help they might get to pay for safety shoes they need in their position.

“I think universally people wanted to see more of an increase,” he said. “But I think the bargaining teams, at least four of the five bargaining teams, looked and saw the realities of the state budget and recommended approval.”

One bargaining unit, representing supervisory employees, did not endorse or recommend against approving the contract agreement.

That was also the case with the negotiators for more than 700 workers at state institutions and correctional facilities represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

“The bargaining team just could not endorse it, but they agreed to send it to the members with a neutral recommendation, ” said Ed Willey, AFSCME coordinator for Maine. “They wanted to send a statement to the governor that they were less than enthusiastic with the proposal, a lot less.”

But, Willey said it is his guess that when the votes are counted, the contract will be ratified.

He said the cost of living increases were not the major issue with institutional workers

Additionally, he said that the major issue was the direct care differential workers get for the often hazardous nature of their jobs.

“We wanted an increase to a dollar an hour, but the state would not budge over 75 cents,” he said.

The current differential payment is 45 cents an hour.

The deadline for voting by AFSCME members was Friday. Ballots will be counted Monday afternoon. MSEA and State Trooper Union ballots will be counted Tuesday.

If a contract is rejected, it’s back to the bargaining table. If it is approved by members, the Legislature must vote to approve the agreement, and provide the funding.

“The money is already identified to fund the agreements,” Leinonen said. “They won’t have to find this money in the budget, it’s already there.”

There is bipartisan support for funding the contracts. Sen. Peter Mills, R-Cornville, the only GOP senator on the Appropriations Committee, said the funding for the contracts is one of the few areas that has not provoked lengthy debate.

“The funding for these comes from the salary plan, and the salary plan, at the current level, has never been a matter of controversy,” he said.

Rep. Randy Berry, D-Livermore, the House co-chair of the budget panel, agreed the funds are in the draft budget.

Most of the nearly $15 million comes from savings in unfilled positions that accrue throughout the two year budget.

“It is one of the things on our must do list in our budget,” he said. “I respect the negotiating process and I think the committee agrees.”