AFSCME Contract - MMB Home - Minnesota Management & Budget

200 Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55155
651.259.3637
TTY 651.282.2699
www.doer.state.mn.us
DATE: June 30, 1991
TO:
FROM:
Agency Heads
Nancy Arneson McClure /s/
Deputy Commissioner - Labor Relations
PHONE: 296-8934
RE:
Employee Involvement in Purchasing Decisions
During the recent round of negotiations between the State and AFSCME, Council No. 6, AFL-
CIO, the Union expressed concerns regarding the lack of employees' participation and
involvement in agency-level purchasing decisions on equipment and technologies. As a means
of resolving this issue, we agreed to forward AFSCME's concerns directly to state agency
heads.
Although it is understood that employees will not be making the ultimate purchasing decision, it
is often helpful for supervisors and managers to consider the concerns and views of the
employees before such decisions are made. In many cases, employees who currently operate
the equipment or who will operate any new equipment/technology can offer valuable
information, insight, and expertise regarding the various considerations that are involved in
making equipment/technology purchasing decisions. For example, employees can offer
suggestions concerning what type of equipment/technology to purchase, which type of
equipment/technology best fits the needs of the workplace/operator, which type of
equipment/technology would be most compatible with existing equipment/technology, etc.
The 1991-93 Agreement between the State of Minnesota and AFSCME, Council No. 6 agreed
that purchasing would be discussed in the joint labor management committee for each state
agency.
We are not implying with this memorandum that all agencies deny their employees opportunities
for offering input into purchasing decisions. We do, however, want you to be aware of the
perceptions which AFSCME has brought to our attention.
Please contact me should you have any questions or comments.
NM:tg
cc:
Labor Relations Directors/Designees
Equal Opportunity Employer
Minnesota Department of Employee Relations
2013-2015 AFSCME Contract – Page 156