Members of state employees unions have a rally at the state Capitol Campus at noon to demand "competitive pay" in the new contracts that are being negotiated.

Under current law, the unions negotiate with the governor's office in private and when they reach an agreement the Legislature can either pass that as part of the state budget or reject it outright. Some legislators are not happy about being shut out of the process until the "take it or leave it" stage. 

The unions are saying their members don't receive wages that are in line with the rest of the market for the same jobs. They are not saying what level of raises they are seeking at the bargaining table. 

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