Negotiations 2007   Dates  |   Proposals  |   Reports  |   Committee  |   Background  |   Links

For the first time since the AFSCME Clerical and Technical Workers voted for AFSCME in the early 1990s, we are sitting down together at the Negotiations table, along with our fellow AFSCME sisters and brothers from AFSCME Local 3260, the U of M Health Care Workers. This is a huge step forward, and represents a continuation of the unity and the strength we brought to our last round of negotiations.

Negotiation Dates

May 31 (125 Coffey Hall, St. Paul)
June 14/15 (101 Walter / W120 Boynton)
June 28 (101 Walter)
July 9/10 (125 Coffey Hall)
Aug 9/10 (125 Coffey Hall)
August 28-30
[more dates scheduled as necessary]

Union & University Proposals

5/31/07 - Union Opening Proposals (pdf)
5/31/07 - University Administration Language Proposals (pdf)
6/14/07 - Union Proposal on Tuition Remission (pdf)
6/15/07 - Union Benefits Advisory Committee Statement (pdf)
6/15/07 - Union Proposal on Insurance (pdf)
6/28/07 - University Administration Wage Proposals (pdf)
7/9/07 - University Administration Insurance Proposals (pdf)

Results of August 10th Negotiations

At 10:30 Friday night (August 10th) the University brought a “settlement offer” to our negotiations committee.

This offer was for 2.25% across-the board on July 1st of each year of the contract, and did not address the other issues we had sent to them in our previous proposal, including looking at a cap on health insurance premiums along with other ways of distributing the economics of the contract.

Our negotiating committee members agree that this proposal does not even come close to meeting our economic needs. The State Legislature was generous in its allocation to the University this year and we know that there is money in that appropriation for staff wage increases.

We believe the University can do better than this trivial amount in compensation for the distance we’ve fallen behind inflation over the last 5 years. In order to make economic progress our general wage increase must be more than the inflation rate. If it isn’t, we don’t get a salary increase -- we get a pay cut.

We know that the compensation for senior administrators has been more than generous, and that the University is making deliberate decisions about where it will put the money from its compensation funds.

The AFSCME Joint Negotiations Committee made a decision on Friday night to send the settlement offer back to the University’s negotiators, along with a letter to them stating that we would send their proposal out for a vote of the membership. We told them that we would be sending this to our members with a recommendation of “reject and strike.”

We have already scheduled Strike Preparation meetings, beginning at noon Tuesday, August 14th. These meetings will be held all over campus and will focus on updates and explanations about the developments of the last evening of negotiations.

The Twin Cities campus meetings are progressive, and each week we will address a different aspect of strike readiness. Please plan to attend one meeting each week. If you are unable to attend during that week, contact your Union and arrangements will be made to get the information to you by other means.

Negotiation Reports

Days 6 & 7: August 9 & 10

Thursday
- 9:20 am: University presented Insurance Premiums
- 10:30 am: Union brought language response
- 1:00 pm: Union brought insurance response
- 3:00 pm: University response expected at 3pm ...
- 6:00 pm: University brought proposal
- 8:45 pm: Union brought response
- 10:20 pm: University brought response.
Wage proposal from University is currently: 1.5% & 1.5% for Techs and Clericals, 1.75% & 1.75% for Health Care
Wage proposal from Union is currently: 9.5% & 7.0% for all Bargaining Units

Friday
- 9:30 am: Union brought proposal (including understanding of post-negotiation meet & confers)
- 1:40 pm: University brought proposal (including Frequent Fitness Incentive & signed understanding of meet & confers)
- 3:45 pm: Union brought proposal
- 4:45 pm: University brought proposal (wages only)
- 7:30 pm: Union brought proposal
- 8:30 pm: University brought Settlement Proposal
- 9:45 pm: Union letter in response to Settlement Proposal
Wage proposal from University is currently: 2.25% & 2.25% for Techs and Clericals, 2.5% & 2.5% for Health Care
Wage proposal from Union is currently: 4%-2%-4%-2% for all Bargaining Units (July07-Jan08-July08-Jan09)

Day 5: July 9

Notes from July 9 (pdf)

Met with management:
- Mediator attended today's meeting - as requested by the University
- University gave Health Insurance presentation
- University brought Health Insurance Proposals, but it did not include Health Insurance Rates
- University expects to have Health Insurance rates in early August
- University gave a very minimual response to the union's language proposals.

Current Status:
- Wating for an insurance rates from the University
- Wage proposal: 1% & 1% for Techs and Clericals, 1.25% & 1.25% for Health Care
- Contract ended June 30th
- Next negotiation dates are August 9 & 10 (125 Coffey Hall)

Day 4: June 28

Notes from June 28 (pdf)

Met with management:
- University brought opening wage proposals:  Clericals 1% & 1%, Techs 1% & 1%, Health Care 1.25% & 1.25%
- University gave responses to several language proposals
- The University is going to request mediation.

Status at end of session:
- Wage proposal: 1% & 1% for Techs and Clericals, 1.25% & 1.25% for Health Care
- Wating for an insurance proposal from the University
- Contract ends on June 30th
- Next negotiation dates are July 9 & 10 (125 Coffey Hall)

Days 2 & 3: June 14 & 15

Notes from June 14 (pdf)
Notes from June 15 (pdf)

Thursday
Met with management:
- Union asked for clarifications and data regarding several of the Universities proposals
- University gave responses to the Union proposals: the University rejected most of the proposals, except for those dealing with typos or technical errors.
- the University did not bring a wage proposal: the university said they expect to have a wage proposal at our next meeting, June 28th
- the University said they did not expect to have an insurance proposal until after June 28th

Friday
Met with management:
- Union members expressed dismay and extreme disappointment of the University's rejection of most of the Union's proposals without discussion; individuals spoke 1-2 minutes each to University’s team.
- Union responded to University's response to Union proposals.
- Union brought Insurance proposals. Union also presented a statement to the Benefits Advisory Committee.

Status at end of session:
- Waiting for wage proposal and insurance proposal from the University.
- Contract ends on June 30th

Day 1: May 31

Notes from May 31 (pdf)

Union met for 1/2 day to finalize proposal presentations

Met with management:
- Union gave a presentation on wages (same as in SOL meetings)
- Union gave language proposals and wage proposals
- University gave language proposals
- University did not give wage or insurance proposals

Status at end of session:
- Waiting for wage proposal and insurance proposal from the University.
- Contract ends on June 30th

Negotiations update 6/7/07

Those of you who have attended our Stand Up For Your Standard of Living (SOL) noon info meetings know that the four AFSCME Locals at the U (AFSCME Local 3260 Health Care, AFSCME Local 3800 Clerical, AFSCME Local 3801 UMD Clerical and Technical and AFSCME Local 3937 Technical) have formed one strong, united negotiating committee this year. This is the first time all four of our locals have negotiated together as one committee and we are excited and proud of our unity. Joining together to bargain makes us stronger and better able to stand together as University workers, across the University, in our Union’s struggle for a living wage.

On Thursday, May 31 our united committee met with management for the first time in the current round of negotiations. We told the employer that our top three priorities are wages, wages, and wages. We started the process by presenting the information we have gathered about the impact of inflation on salaries at the U since 2002.

Those of you who attended our SOL noon info meetings have heard the presentation and seen the figures showing that AFSCME workers’ salaries continue to fall way behind the inflation rate while senior administrators have experienced unheard-of economic progress during this same period. For example, Bob Bruininks is receiving a 17.5% salary increase for the next 2 years. The U of M Presidents’ salary has seen an increase of 78.9% since 1994 while other top and mid-level administrators have experienced huge windfalls ranging from 58.8% to 27.5% since 1994.

These huge increases stand in stark contrast to AFSCME workers’ salaries, which continue to fall below inflation and are now 4.8% lower than they were in 2002. In addition to our wage proposals of 10% the first year and 7.5% the second year, we presented the proposed contract language on which our members voted.

We did not talk about health insurance at this meeting. We will open health insurance negotiations later at an as-yet undetermined date. Members of our committee also read the main points from our Union’s Compensation Philosophy.

Management’s opening proposals consisted mainly of technical changes, editorial changes and what we refer to as “housekeeping.” They presented a small number of proposals of substance. They did not present a wage proposal.

Again this year we will post an account of what transpires across the table on our web pages.

We will continue to hold SOL noon information meetings in the workplace. If you have trouble making ends meet and want to know why, these meetings will answer that question. We want as many Union members as possible to attend these important meetings; our goal is to hold meetings in as many different buildings as possible across campus.

Check your Union e-mails for meetings in your building or area – or better yet – get in touch with to schedule a meeting for your office or workplace

No Movement from Management - Strike Set for Wed, Sep 5

August 29th, 2007

To all U of M AFSCME employees,

Last week we heard from 72% of our members that the August 10th offer of 2.25% and 2.5% are not acceptable proposals. The majority of our members rejected this offer last week, and voted to authorize a strike.

We came to the table this morning, August 29th, 2007, and made major moves in our wage proposals.

The University responded to our opening proposal with no change in their proposal whatsoever. Their offer remains at 2.25% for Clerical and Technical employees, and 2.5% for Health Care employees. They tell us that there is no more money to put on the table for AFSCME employees.

Over the course of our negotiations we have been consistent in our message to the University that AFSCME employees need to make up for years of decreasing job value.

Our wages have not kept up with inflation.

We know that it takes only $1.1 million for each percentage increase for our members. This is out of an overall operating budget of close to $1.5 billion. The U of M AFSCME Joint Negotiations Committee cannot in good conscience ask members to accept this non-proposal. We must all re-double our efforts to prepare for a strike to begin Wednesday, September 5th. In order to reach any settlement that we can accept – every AFSCME employee has to be part of this action. We must be ready to take a stand now.

There are Strike Preparation meetings scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week.

There is a Community Support action tonight (Wednesday, August 29th) at the corner of Union and Washington Avenues on the East Bank. We will be bannering and handing out flyers.

There is a rally planned for noon, Thursday, August 30th on Northrop Mall.

In addition, there is a strike hotline now set up for updates:

612-234-8772

Events and actions will be happening very fast in the next few days. We urge you to check the web sites and the strike hotline for the most recent information about meetings, rallies, picket-sign pick-up and other crucial dates, times and locations.

We are strong when we all stand together!

U of M AFSCME Joint Negotiations Committee

Press Conference on 8/24/07

U of M AFSCME Votes to Take a Stand

On Thursday, August 23rd, an overwhelming 72% of AFSCME Clerical, Health Care and Technical workers who voted on the University’s so-called “final settlement offer” rejected this assault on our wages and our steps.

We have all taken a stand for our standard of living. Let’s get back to the table. This vote shouts out for a wage offer that enables us to make real economic progress.

We invite you to join us for a press conference at Morrill Hall at 12:15 today, Friday, August 24. We hope to see you there!

The Joint U of M AFSCME Negotiations Committee

=Voting Day - Table in Med Area.

All of the boxes of votes - just before the count.

Counting Time

Tallying the Votes

AFSCME Unity in Contract Negotiations

Every two years the AFSCME locals at the University of Minnesota negotiate a new contract. On June 30, 2007 these contracts will expire. The AFSCME Locals on campus, AFSCME Local 3260 (Health Care workers), AFSCME Local 3800 (Clerical workers), AFSCME Local 3801 (UMD Clerical and Technical workers) and AFSCME Local 3937 (Technical workers) will again sit down at the negotiating table united. We learned from our experience two years ago that by standing together and speaking in one voice the strength of our union is dramatically increased.

We know that our members want to see the AFSCME locals at the University standing together united. The AFSCME locals at the U are standing in solidarity and are speaking in one voice. We are united in our fight for a wage that reflects our true contribution to the University of Minnesota, for health care that we can all afford, and for respect for the invaluable jobs we do.

We are committed to communicating with you every step of the way. Watch for special e-mails, updates on the website and in the newsletter. Members, you spoke and we heard you!

WE ARE STRONG
WE ARE UNITED
WE ARE AFSCME at the U

Negotiations slated to begin in late May

We had a very difficult round of negotiations last time and we all need to work together for this next round.

Are you satisfied with your job? Is it harder to make ends meet? Are you able to save enough money for your children's college education? For your own retirement?

We know that our ability to win better contracts is based on the number of people who make the decision to join with their co-workers in fighting for better working conditions, better pay, and a better University.

Can we count on you to participate again in all the activities that make our union strong?

We need you! Join you co-workers in one or many of the activities that make a difference when it comes to our bargaining strength.

Results of vote on MOU for new co-pay for Generic Plus medications

Our membership voted to pass a proposal to change the cost of our co-pay for Generic Plus prescriptions. University management had proposed to the Unions that the cost of co-pays for these drugs be changed from $10.00 to $8.00. The full text of this MOU appears below this message.

Because the proposal would change contract language, because it affects everyone in the bargaining unit who carries University health care, and because this proposal came to us between negotiations, we brought it to a vote of the membership at the following regular membership meeting:

WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2007
5:15, Room 332B UTEC Building
1313 – 5th St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414

Full text of MOU follows:

Memorandum of Understanding Between The University of Minnesota And AFSCME Council 5, Locals 3937 and 3801

The University of Minnesota (“the Employer”) and AFSCME Council 5, Locals 3937 and 3801 (“the Union”) agree to modify the collective bargaining agreement to provide for an $8.00 copayment per prescription or refill for up to a 30 day supply of Generic Plus drugs.

Below is the language change to Article 20, Section 6 (A)( 7) of the 2005-2007 collective bargaining agreement:

7. Prescription Drugs

• $10 copayment (Effective May 1, 2007 this copayment shall be reduced to $8.00) per prescription or refill for up to a 30 day supply of Generic Plus drugs. A copay is incurred for each type of insulin.
• $20 copayment per prescription or refill for up to a 30 day supply of all other formulary brand drugs. A copay is incurred for each type of insulin.
• $35 copayment per prescription or refill for up to a 30 day supply of non-formulary drugs.
• If a chemically equivalent generic drug is available and the employee takes the brand drug, the employee pays the generic copay and the difference in cost between the brand drug and generic drug.
• Annual out of pocket (OOP) maximum for prescription drug copayments of $750 per person or $1500 per family. Copayments for the cost difference between generic and brand name drugs do not count against this annual OOP maximum.

Negotiations Committee Elections

The Technical Bargaining Unit elections for members of the Negotiations Committee for the 2007-2009 Contract bargaining round were held at a regular membership meeting of the Local on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at the Local office, Room 332-B, UTech Building at 5:15 pm.

Members elected to the Negotiations Committee for the 2007-2009 contract bargaining talks are:

• Ken Holm, Chief Steward
• Ron Kubik, UM Morris
• Jody Ebert, West Bank
• Greg Knoblauch, St. Paul
• Candace Lund, East Bank (Candace has since left University employment)
• Chris Koehler, St. Paul
• Krista Gallagher, Med Area (appointed to replace Candace Lund)
• Barbara Bezat, President
• Denise Osterholm, Local 3801 President, representing the techs at UMD

The composition of the Negotiating Committee was approved at the September membership meeting.

Background

Why do unions exist?

Historically unions have formed in work places where there is little trust between labor (workers) and management as a way for workers to protect themselves from misuse by management. Unions unite workers to give them more power, protection and security in the work place. Some of the accomplishemnts of unions are: the five-day work week, child labor protections, better pay and benefits.

What is the structure of the UofM unions?
(locals, Council 5, AFSCME)

At the "U" two labor unions represent most of the workers on campus - that's AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) and the Teamsters. The "U" AFSCME has four "Locals" which are groups of workers in related job classes. Each local is assigned a number to identify it. The "U's" AFSCME Locals are: 3800 Unit 6 representing the clerical workers, 3260 Unit 4 representing the Healthcare workers, 3937 Unit 7 representing the Technical , and 3801 for Duluth Units 6 and 7 clerical and technical workers combined. The Council is the state level of the AFSCME organization. It works to guide and support the locals. It provides local 3937 with its business agent (and chief negotiator), Joyce Carlson.

How do negotiations work?

Generally, negotiations are divided into three subject areas: health benefits, contract language, and economics (pay). There are separate meetings to deal with each of these topics. Joyce is 3937's chief negotiator, which means she does the talking to management for us. Your negotiation team is present as witnesses, observers, and note takers. If any controversy arises we can request a caucus (a time out) to disucss the issue and paln strategy with Joyce and among ourselves without management present.

Why are the locals coordinating their efforts this time?

During the 2003 negotiations, many of you expressed frustation at the lack of coordination among the locals. It divided us and gave us less power. So in the past years, the leadership from all of the locals have been working together on a regular basis. Our goal is to create more strength by working together.

We have gotten to know and appreciate our fellow locals for their talents, enthusiasm, and support. Together, during the 2005 negotiations, we sat top management down (President Bruinicks and his vice presidents) and presented our concerns to them in a series of meetings. Some of the topcs covered were: "The Economics of Working at the 'U' ", where we read responses you gave to our economic survey; "Sliding Fee Insurance" (you make more money, you pay higher premiums, and if you make less, you pay less). We presented stories based on real experiences of our co-workers to demonstrate some of the work place injustices that go on. This showed the need for protective contract language and better management of supervisors.

(Thank you to Local 3260 Healthcare Workers negotiations team for this "Primer")

Links

3800 Clerical Workers Web site

2005-2007 3937-UofM Contract