University of Minnesota clericals, represented by AFSCME Local 3800, announced Friday they had rejected management?s last offer and authorized a strike. Meanwhile, unions representing two other groups of university workers announced they had ratified new contracts.
?We are ready and willing and prepared to strike if necessary,? Local 3800 President Phyllis Walker said. ?We intend to engage in a vocal public discussion about the priorities of this administration.?
With 88 percent of members voting, 63 percent voted to reject the contract and strike. Balloting took place Oct. 1 and 2.
Walker said the union would meet next week to set a strike date, but added, ?We?re hoping that the administration calls us back to the table and makes us a fair offer.? Local 3800 represents 1,800 university clerical workers.
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| AFSCME Local 3800 President Phyllis Walker (center) announced the strike vote at a news conference. Photos by Barb Kucera |
The union said the university?s last offer included ?a return to a non-union pay scale, no meaningful layoff protections, wage freezes, and drastic increases in health care costs.? Walker disputed University President Robert Bruininks? claim that the offer was driven by declining revenues, saying, ?There is not a budget crisis at the University of Minnesota. There is a distribution crisis.?
AFSCME points to more than 60 top university administrators who earn more than the governor?s salary of $120, 311. The dollar amount spent on the top staff increased 36 percent in the last three years, the union said. The mostly female clerical staff, in contrast, earns a starting salary of $12.36 an hour and is forced to take second and even third jobs to make ends meet, Walker said.
Two other university unions announced they had ratified new contracts, but stated support for the clericals.
?If there is a strike by the clerical workers, we will do everything we can to support them,? Teamsters Local 320, which represents 1,300 university workers, said in a statement. Local 320 said its membership ratified a new contract on a vote of 56 percent in favor, 44 percent against.
The union railed against the rising health care costs that dominated the negotiations. ?These costs are driven by insurance and pharmaceutical giants that are in the business of making profits, not providing health care,? Local 320 said. ?The university administration has used this health care crisis to pass on the increasing costs of health care to its lowest paid workers.?
AFSCME Local 3937, representing 1,100 technical workers at the university, announced members approved a new pact on a vote of 57 percent in favor, 42 percent against and one percent voided ballots. The union scheduled meetings for members to discuss their next steps.
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| This sign conveyed workers' views about the university budget. |
For more information
Visit the websites of AFSCME Local 3800, AFSCME Local 3937, AFSCME Local 3801 and Teamsters Local 320.
Related article
State contract talks resume; U unions tally votes
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University of Minnesota clericals, represented by AFSCME Local 3800, announced Friday they had rejected management?s last offer and authorized a strike. Meanwhile, unions representing two other groups of university workers announced they had ratified new contracts.
?We are ready and willing and prepared to strike if necessary,? Local 3800 President Phyllis Walker said. ?We intend to engage in a vocal public discussion about the priorities of this administration.?
With 88 percent of members voting, 63 percent voted to reject the contract and strike. Balloting took place Oct. 1 and 2.
Walker said the union would meet next week to set a strike date, but added, ?We?re hoping that the administration calls us back to the table and makes us a fair offer.? Local 3800 represents 1,800 university clerical workers.
|
|
AFSCME Local 3800 President Phyllis Walker (center) announced the strike vote at a news conference. Photos by Barb Kucera |
The union said the university?s last offer included ?a return to a non-union pay scale, no meaningful layoff protections, wage freezes, and drastic increases in health care costs.? Walker disputed University President Robert Bruininks? claim that the offer was driven by declining revenues, saying, ?There is not a budget crisis at the University of Minnesota. There is a distribution crisis.?
AFSCME points to more than 60 top university administrators who earn more than the governor?s salary of $120, 311. The dollar amount spent on the top staff increased 36 percent in the last three years, the union said. The mostly female clerical staff, in contrast, earns a starting salary of $12.36 an hour and is forced to take second and even third jobs to make ends meet, Walker said.
Two other university unions announced they had ratified new contracts, but stated support for the clericals.
?If there is a strike by the clerical workers, we will do everything we can to support them,? Teamsters Local 320, which represents 1,300 university workers, said in a statement. Local 320 said its membership ratified a new contract on a vote of 56 percent in favor, 44 percent against.
The union railed against the rising health care costs that dominated the negotiations. ?These costs are driven by insurance and pharmaceutical giants that are in the business of making profits, not providing health care,? Local 320 said. ?The university administration has used this health care crisis to pass on the increasing costs of health care to its lowest paid workers.?
AFSCME Local 3937, representing 1,100 technical workers at the university, announced members approved a new pact on a vote of 57 percent in favor, 42 percent against and one percent voided ballots. The union scheduled meetings for members to discuss their next steps.
|
| This sign conveyed workers’ views about the university budget. |
For more information
Visit the websites of AFSCME Local 3800, AFSCME Local 3937, AFSCME Local 3801 and Teamsters Local 320.
Related article
State contract talks resume; U unions tally votes