By AP
LANSING, MI –
The state of Michigan and one of its leading employee unions have started a new round of contract negotiations.
Officials from United Auto Workers Local 6000 and the state had an official handshake ceremony on Tuesday to signify the start of bargaining.
The economic portions of the union's contract with the state don't expire until late 2012. But it's likely that labor concessions sought by Gov. Rick Snyder's administration for the upcoming fiscal year will factor into the contract talks in some fashion.
The state budget for the fiscal year that starts in October assumes about $145 million in concessions from state employees overall.
UAW Local 6000 represents about 17,000 state employees.