State workers upset with governor's offer.

By Laura Banish, Albuquerque Journal, N.M. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Feb. 4--SANTA FE, N.M. -- When Bill Richardson ran for governor three years ago, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees was one of his biggest supporters, giving Richardson's successful campaign about $300,000 with the hope of restoring collective bargaining rights.

The bargaining process is back in effect for state workers, but now Richardson's office won't even reply to AFSCME's pay raise proposals, according to union officials currently negotiating a pay increase for state employees.

"It's very distressing and really a mystery. We …