By AP
LANSING, MI –
A union representing 17,000 state workers in Michigan has reached a tentative contract agreement that avoids 10 unpaid days off in 2010.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm's administration had imposed the furlough days after the state and United Auto Workers Local 6000 failed to reach an agreement on contract concessions.
Granholm's office said Wednesday that a new agreement has been reached. Union members must still approve the contract.
Under the agreement, union members must set aside 26 hours that they would bank for future payment after this budget year. Employees hired after April 1 would pay a larger share of their health care costs. The amount of random drug testing would be
decreased by two-thirds.
Granholm has been trying to wring $50 million in savings from state workers.