Fellow AFSCME members: 

We are writing with an urgent update on contract negotiations and to ask you to take action this morning! Our bargaining committee has been called in to mediation for this afternoon and we have been told that we will receive a final offer from the University.  

As you know, we have been in bargaining since late June. We have met to bargain numerous times with management, and each time, we have emphasized that our priorities, as determined in a survey of our membership are 1) a reasonable across the board wage increase in each year; 2) step increases in each year; 3) no changes in health insurance; 4) increased job security language; and 4) language to deal with bullying in the workplace. The first three items have a price tag, but as we have stated in previous emails, the University has the ability to make these happen. The final two priorities bear no cost to the University and would significantly improve the quality of employment for clerical staff.  

The University’s response to our proposals have been to state that there is no money for increases in the first year, minimal money for the second year, that they intend to shift health care costs to employees so that they can add $10 million to the general fund. They have also stated that they are interested in efficiency rather than job security for our members, and that they are not interested in putting contractual measures into place to stop bullying. 

Last night, we had our first session of mediation with management. We believe that there is still a lot of bargaining left to do, and that we have been making progress in conveying our priorities. However, we were told at 9:30pm that the University intends to give us their final offer this afternoon. The Teamsters reached a tentative agreement two weeks ago. On Tuesday, the health care and technical employees reached a tentative agreement with the University.   

See below for a listing of the University’s and our union’s current proposals. It is critical that the University administration hears from clerical employees before management’s committee gives us their final offer. 

Please call or email President Kaler and Vice President for Human Resources Kathy Brown. Tell them that we need wage increases and steps in both years, no cost shifts in health insurance, job security and bullying protections. 

President Kaler: ekaler@umn.edu; 612-626-1616

Vice-President Kathy Brown: brown059@umn.edu; 612-625-1501 or 624-6556 

In solidarity,

AFSCME 3800 Bargaining Committee

Phyllis Walker

Mary Lou Middleton

Cherrene Horazuk

Andy Carhart

Polly Peterson

Doug Sembla

Mary Snyder

Ginger Nohl

Judy Borrell

Rick Castillo

Kem Tae Lynch

Kurt Errickson, Council 5 Negotiator 
 

STATUS OF UNION PROPOSALS: 

Wages:

General increase of 2.5% in the first year; 3.5% in the second year

Steps – included in both years of the contract

Furlough lump sum – dropped

In-range adjustment for increased duties – dropped

Delete bottom two steps of salary grids, add a step at the top – dropped 

Insurance - No changes to current health care plan 

Regents Scholarship return to 100% - dropped 

Job security proposals

Hiring priority – still on the table

Elimination of selection criteria – still on the table

Definition of a layoff as any reduction in hours – dropped

Vacancies will be offered to laid off employees – still on the table

No Subsequent probation – still on the table

University wide bumping – still on the table

Listing the collegiate/administrative units – dropped 

Bullying in the Workplace/ Workplace quality – modified proposal still on the table 

Flexible scheduling will include telecommuting – university has tentatively agreed to our union’s proposal 

Discipline and Settlement of disputes:

Employee resignations – dropped

Discipline and settlement of disputes:

Change in grievance hearing officers – dropped

Modified coaching language – dropped

Additional notice of investigatory and disciplinary meetings – dropped 

Yearly cash out of a week’s vacation – university has tentatively agreed to our union’s proposal 

Sick leave:

Increase accrual rate – dropped

Sick leave usage to care for grandchildren – still on the table

Five days paid bereavement leave – dropped 

Extending FMLA beyond 12 weeks – dropped

Six weeks of paid parental leave – dropped 

Reinstating seniority and accruals for rehired employees – still on the table 

University paid negotiations – dropped 

STATUS OF MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS: 

Wages:

First year – no step increase; no general (across the board) increase

Second year – steps and a general increase of 0.55%; or use the money from the step increase for a general (across the board) increase of 2.05% 

Insurance:

Cost shift on health insurance premiums to 13% (from 10%) for single and 19.5% (from 15%) for family coverage.

Cost shift on dental insurance premiums to 12% (from 10%) for single and 48% (from 40%) for family coverage.

Increase the following copays: Emergency room – $90 (from $75); Urgent care - $15 (from $11); CT and MRI Scans – $30 (from $25); Office visits - $15 (from $11); Generic Drugs - $10 (from $8), formulary - $30 (from $25), non-formulary - $60 (from $50).

Increase out of network deductible to $600 (from $500)

Increase lifetime maximum to unlimited (from $5 million) 

Temporary positions that extend beyond one year will be posted – union tentatively agreed 

Discontinue MOU on conduct of union business – still on the table 

MOU to meet and confer on respectful workplace – change dates to current contract – still on the table