The following testimony was given by clerical workers to the Board of Regents on June 14, 2010.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY MAY 11, 2010

Press Conference
Monday June 14, 2010
11am
Outside McNamara Alumni Center
(200 Oak St SE, Minneapolis)

Also, Click here to sign a petition online to the Regents!

Or you can click here to print out a copy of the petition sheet to sign and to use in your work area

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Rally Thursday, March 12
12:15-1:00
McNamara Plaza

(click above image for printable PDF of flyer)

On Thursday, March 12, 2009 the Faculty, Staff and Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Regents will consider an Administration proposal that will require employees who wish to take a class at the University through the Regents Scholarship to pay 25% of the tuition for that class. The committee will meet from 2:45-4:15, and it’s important that they hear from employees before they take action to cut this program. AFSCME 3800, AFSCME 3937 and other concerned employees and students are organizing a rally and speak-out to demand that the Board of Regents not cut the scholarship program.

Given the alarming tuitions rates here at the U, and the decreasing buying power of our wages, this is yet another slash in our ever-shrinking benefits package. Unionized staff at the University, whether AFSCME or Teamster, are among the lowest paid employees of this institution, and this proposal will fall heavily on us. 71% of the staff who use Regents Scholarships is unionized and civil service employees. We cannot afford to have the University budget balanced on the backs of hard-working employees.

SEND A MESSAGE TO THE REGENTS! If you think this is an unacceptable proposal, let the Regents know. Come to the rally on Thursday! Bring your coworkers! Listen to what students, faculty, P&A, civil service and union employees have to say about the wonderful benefits of the Regents Scholarship, how it has changed lives, and how devastating the proposed cut will be.

We are also collecting signatures on a petition that we will deliver to the Regents following the Rally. Click here to print out a copy of the petition sheet to sign and to use in your work area. Bring copies of the petition to the rally on Thursday.

With 80 percent approval, AFSCME members have voted to accept the University of Minnesota's contract offer for 2007-2009. That means clerical, health care and technical workers will not return to the picket line this fall.

After receiving the University's offer, AFSCME members ended their 13-day strike for economic justice and returned to work by September 27.

The union negotiating committee found the wage offer inadequate because it fails to keep up with inflation. For that reason, the committee made no recommendation on how members should vote on the contract offer. Last week 3,150 AFSCME members had the opportunity to vote by mail ballot. Voters had two choices: to accept the contract, or to reject it and strike. Ballots were counted October 15.

The two-year contract includes a 2.25 percent cost of living increase for clerical and technical workers, a 2.5 percent cost of living increase for health care workers, plus steps to reward longevity and a $300 lump sum in each year. Workers who don't receive step increases will get an additional $300 in each year. The union's summary of the contract is posted at www.afscmemn.org. Go to Bargaining Updates and click on U of M.

A typical U of M AFSCME worker earns $34,000 a year and qualifies for food stamps if supporting a family of four. That worker will earn $1,065 more next year with the new contract. The raise won't cover the rising cost of food, gas and housing. Due to inflation, someone starting work under the new contract will earn 8 percent less than someone who started the job in 2003.

"Workers approved this contract for the same reason we were forced back to work," explained Denise Osterholm, president of UMD Local 3801. "We're struggling to afford food, gas and housing. We can't sustain a further loss of wages,"

"The University should be ashamed that its workers can't afford to attend or send their kids to the University," said Barb Bezat, president of Technical Local 3937.

"Morale has tanked and it's time for the Bruininks administration to recognize that world class universities don't treat their workers like second class citizens," said Rhonda Jennen, president of Health Care Local 3260.

"We're energized to build a world class union and a world class university, which welcomes Minnesota's working class, treats us with respect, and helps us prosper," said Phyllis Walker, president of Clerical Local 3800.

All four of the local union presidents have vowed to continue their struggle for economic justice.

AFSCME Council 5 provides one strong united voice for 43,000 public and non-profit workers in Minnesota, including 3,150 health care, technical and clerical workers at five University of Minnesota campuses in the Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris and Rochester.

U of M AFSCME Goes Back To Work, Fight Continues

September 21, 2007

After 15 hours of mediation, the negotiating committee of University of Minnesota AFSCME has made the decision to take the University Administration's settlement offer to union members for a vote. The two-year contract offer contains a 2.25 percent cost of living increase for clerical and technical workers, a 2.5 percent cost of living increase for healthcare workers, plus steps and a $300 lump sum in each year. Workers who don't receive step increases will get an additional $300 in each year. This offer will go to members without recommendation from the negotiating committee.

We are forced back to work because we can no longer sustain the loss of salary and a looming end to our health care coverage. A typical striker earns $34,000 a years and qualifies for food stamps if supporting a family of four. We remain shocked by the administrations absolute disregard for people's lives," said Denise Osterholm, President of UMD Local 3801. This settlement is inadequate in that it does not account for the ever rising cost of food, gas and housing. Because of inflation, someone starting work under this contract will earn eight percent less than someone who started the job in 2003.

Barb Bezat, President of the Technical Local 3937 said, "The University should be ashamed that its workers can't afford to attend or send their kids to the University.

"This offer is unfair because it fails to keep up with inflation," said, Rhonda Jennen President of the healthcare workers. "The U is choosing to impoverish some of its workers. World class universities don't treat their workers like second class citizens" We have been met at every turn by an intransigent administration, led by President Robert Bruininks and Vice President and Provost E. Thomas Sullivan, who are committed to the idea that those who already have should have ever more while the have-nots are pushed further to the bottom. "While we have a great commitment to the University of Minnesota as an institution, we have been treated with disrespect and disregard by the current administration." said Bezat.

Phyllis Walker, Clerical Local 3800 President said, "We wish to thank the many thousands across the state who have given us support, including faculty, students, unions and community members. We are energized to build a world class union. We are confident that we will do that before the administration builds a world class University. Bruininks and Sullivan have an agenda of more money for the rich, more free research for corporations, and education only for the elite. Their agenda shuts working class Minnesotans out of the University."

 

Workday Minnesota put together this short video with interviews of legislators who allocated funds to the U for staff wages - including 3.25% PLUS steps for AFSCME workers. Check it out!

For Immediate Release:

University AFSCME Strike having big impact on campus. Thousands rallied at noon today in support.

For Friday, Sept 21, all picketing is suspended. The 10 am rally is also cancelled.

Do not report to work.

Strikers: Please come to a noon meeting of all strikers on Friday at Strike Headquarters for an update on what happened in mediation on Thursday.

U of M AFSCME will hold a press conference Monday, September 3, 2007 at 11:30 am.  The press conference will take place at Como Senior High School, 740 Rose Avenue in St. Paul immediately prior to the Labor Day Parade sponsored by the St. Paul Area Trades and Labor Assembly.

Press release to follow.

Below is a sample of the work AFSCME members do every day to make the University of Minnesota run smoothly.

I prepare the faculty reimbursements.

I work in dental dispensing, handing out instruments and supplies for specific procedures. Dental students won't be able to do their job without me. I also clean and sterilize the instruments. Click here to continue reading...