...had wanted and what the state had been willing to pay amounted to about $8 million over two years, MAPE President Deb Schadegg had said. Although 40 issues remained on the table as the talks resumed Monday, salaries had been the biggest sticking...

...probation period and others a two-year probation. ''That's a significant fairness issue for us,'' MAPE President Deb Schadegg said. Besides computer technicians, MAPE includes parole and probation officers, meat and dairy inspectors, and...

...offer. If a majority votes no to the state offer, it would authorize the MAPE board of directors to call a strike. Deb Schadegg, MAPE president, who met with members in Brainerd recently, said ballots are going out to members by Monday and votes...

...is nothing fancy or racy about what we do, and we're very good. You don't even know that we're there," said Deb Schadegg, MAPE's president. "Maybe that's been part of the problem. And now our members want you to know we're here...

...Employees was offered a one-time boost of 4 percent; the union was looking for 4.6 percent per year. MAPE president Deb Schadegg said she hopes state negotiators plan to offer more money. "If we're meeting to talk about the dollars already allocated...

...before there is long-term damage to public services and even greater damage to the citizens," said MAPE president Deb Schadegg. Earlier, the state had offered AFSCME 3 percent raises for each of the next two years and the union had asked for...

...first time in the history of our organization that we have been forced to consider a strike,'' said MAPE President Deb Schadegg. The last state employee strike was in 1981, when AFSCME employees walked out for three weeks. Schadegg said a strike...

...are being held on the last day of a 10-day cooling-off period because of the holiday season. But MAPE president Deb Schadegg said it is common for state mediators to schedule last-ditch talks near the end of a cooling-off period. ''It...