Minnesota workers end walkout; sour feelings remain

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- About 23,000 state employees began returning to work Monday after a two-week strike that some Minnesotans had branded unpatriotic.

The workers returned with relief but also bitterness toward those who had condemned the walkout or crossed picket lines.

"It's very difficult. I don't make eye contact," said Lisa Maidl, a revenue collector who went back to work. "I don't know if some of these feelings will ever be resolved. There's a lot of anger and hurt."

Minnesota's two largest state-employee unions -- about half the state's work force -- went on strike Oct. 1 over pay increases and health benefits in the biggest such walkout in state history. On Sunday, negotiators reached settlements that will be put to a rank-and-file ratification vote.

The strikers included highway maintenance workers, janitors, food inspectors and computer professionals. During the strike, managers pulled double-duty and as many as 1,000 National Guardsmen helped out at nursing homes, veterans homes, hospitals and other places.

No major problems surfaced, but backups were reported at the state crime laboratory, and health officials said the department was stretched thin while investigating an E. coli outbreak that sickened 15 children.

Some deemed the strike unpatriotic in light of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the sinking economy. Gov. Jesse Ventura said that in wartime, "everyone has to bite the bullet a little bit."

Between 3,000 and 5,000 employees eligible to strike crossed the lines on any given day.