Negotiations - Media  

Media Coverage of our Contract Campaign

AFSCME 3800 collection of media coverage links
Links are added every day - see this up-to-date collection on the Clerical site.

Workday Minnesota - Click on image to go to video:

Minneosta Daily, September 6
Picket lines rise on campus
Also - nice video piece, including Elizabeth Edwards and Dave Linton

City Pages, August 29
Wage War: On the eve of a new school year, a historic strike threatens to throw the U of M into chaos

KFAI audio article, August 8
AFSCME Rally at U of M

Start Tribune, August 8
Union wage negotiations prompt rallies from U workers

Workday Minnesota, Augut 9
University of Minnesota workers rally

Workday Minnesota, June 27
Coverage of the Noon Rally before the Regents' Budget Vote that occured Wednesday, June 27th

Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 30, 2007

Barring a fair wage offer by the University of Minnesota, classes will start next week with
3500 clerical, technical and health care workers poised to strike on September 5 at
campuses in the Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris, Crookston and Rochester.

“The University has chosen to impoverish some of its workers,” said Barb Bezat, president of
AFSCME Technical Local 3937. “Now is the time to avert a strike and start the school year
off right by paying us fair wages that keep up with inflation. It won’t break the U’s $1.5 billion
operating budget.”

Last week AFSCME members overwhelmingly voted to reject the University’s assault on their
wages and authorize a strike. The University has offered unacceptable wage increases of
only 2.25 percent for clerical and technical workers, and 2.5 percent for health care workers.
The proposed raise would mean only $850 a year for the typical striker who earns $34,000 a
year. This worker would qualify for food stamps to support a family of four. Inflation is
projected to be 3.5 percent next year, so the wage offer would effectively be a pay cut.

State employees got a 3.25 percent raise in both years of their contract from the Pawlenty
Administration, plus step increases to reward longevity. The Minnesota Legislature has
provided funding to both the state and University to help with wages and health care costs.

“While our paychecks shrink, top administrators are enjoying huge raises,” explained Phylilis
Walker, president of Clerical Local 3800. In the past 5 years, frontline staff has seen wages
adjusted for inflation fall 4.8 percent. Meanwhile, administrative salaries have increased an
average of 27 percent, while faculty salaries have increased 19 percent. Today more than
1,500 University employees earn more than $100,000 each year.

“It would take only $1.1 million to offer us an additional one percent increase,” said Denise
Osterholm, president of University of Minnesota Duluth Local 3801. “If the University can’t do
that, then it’s looking to break our union."

A last minute deal seems unlikely after the union and employer met August 29. To break
impasse, AFSCME made major moves on wages, proposing a 3.5 percent increase for each
of the next two years plus one percent to offset years of increased health insurance costs.
The University responded with no changes.

AFSCME continues to prepare to strike September 5, the day after fall classes begin.
Frontline workers will be noticeably absent from orientation, registration and other back to
school rituals.

Press Advisory: For Immediate Release

August 27, 2007

AFSCME UNIONS CHALLENGE BRUININKS COMMENTS REGARDING STAFF PAY

AFSCME Unions at the University of Minnesota have filed intent to strike for the first week of class. The University of Minnesota has offered only a 2.25% wage increase for most of the unions and 2.5% for health care workers. This wage adjustment does not meet the expected rate of inflation for the coming two years.

The University is trying to add "step increases" to inflate this number but in fact it is fuzzy math. No other union employer, including the state of Minnesota attempts to factor in step increases as part of the wage increase. A worker doesn't get paid for the full value of their position until they reach the top step. Attempts to add in step increases only devalue the positions more.

Denise Osterholm, President of Local 3801, Duluth said, "The University is proposing a 9.5% increase in health insurance premiums for the base plan and upwards of 20% for some of the family plans. Robert Bruininks should study the University's proposal before he states ""We weren't going to ask our employees to take reductions in health care; we weren't going to pass on costs to them."

Phyllis Walker, President of Local 3800 added, "Robert Bruininks has said, "We would have to go back and make some appropriate adjustments to [other employee groups'] compensation." All other public employees in the State of Minnesota received a least a 3.25% salary increases plus their annual 2% step increases this year. The University is the only public employer that is trying to shortchange its workforce by offering only 2.25%. The U received their budget request of 3.25% for each employee from the Legislature this year. They also received an additional amount for a salary supplement. They have no excuse for shortchanging us this year."

Barbara Bezat, President of AFSCME 3937 and an assistant archivist in the University Libraries pointed out, "The fact is that someone who starts as a Library Assistant today is making 5% less than someone who started in 2003. We are fighting not just for ourselves but for living wage jobs for the future. We cannot become a top research university if we continue to keep staff wages far below inflation. Unless the annual July increase is above the rate of inflation, we're not getting a raise, we're taking a pay cut."