Hello,

When we presented our Standard of Living presentation to the Senior Vice Presidents in May, the Administration chose not to dispute the information contained in our presentation. We've had over forty Standard of Living meetings with our members over the past two and half months and still the Administration did not dispute the information in our presentation.

One has to ask, then, why is the Administration suddenly sending out misleading e-mails to our membership? And why now of all times when they've had ample opportunity over the past three and half months to do so?

The simple answer is the Administration would love to maintain the status quo and have us all believe that apples are oranges and that steps increase are wage increases.

What they don't want us to know is that U of M Civil Service employees all received 3.25% minimum wages increases plus 2.75% increases to the top of their salary range i.e. step increases.

What they also don't want us to know is that state AFSCME employees negotiated 3.25% in addition to step increases (which are larger on average than U of M step increases) and that the State of Minnesota does not consider step increases as wage increases.

Is the work you do any less valuable than the University Civil Service's? Is it any less valuable to what State AFSCME employees do? No.

Then why is the University Administration expecting us to accept a lower wage increase?

Why does the University's Office of Human Resources send e-mail saying that step increases are the same as wage increases when in the past the U of M didn't even consider steps as wage increases?

The Administration knows that the information in our presentations is accurate and therefor favors the AFSCME members and that current time-line for a strike favors AFSCME and not the University . This Administration knows that another strike would be a crippling blow to their reputation and to the ability of this institution to function. Out of desperation the Administration is now resorting to deception to confuse our members.

If you want accurate information, come talk to one of our Negotiation team members at one of the following meetings (click here for full list of meetings):

Monday, August 20, 2007, West Bank Meeting, 415 Blegen Hall
Tuesday, August 21, 2007, Morris Campus Meeting, Student Center Prairie Lounge
Tuesday, August 21, 2007, Gateway Meeting, 235 McNamara Alumni Center
Wednesday, August 22, 2007, Med Area Meeting, W-120 Boynton
Wednesday, August 22, 2007, East Bank Meeting, 16 Johnston Hall
Wednesday, August 22, 2007, St. Paul Meeting, 125 Coffey Hall

If you are unable to attend one of these meetings, here is our video response to the Administration's inaccurate e-mail regarding AFSCME wages and the rate of inflation.

http://www.afscme3800.org/node/60

We all deserve better wages and more respect for our work (not to mention our intelligence) from this University's Administration, but we all have to do what it takes and make the Administration take us seriously. And now, all four U of M AFSCME locals 3937, 3800, 3260 and 3801 have the chance to make that happen.

On Thursday, please vote to reject the Administration's insulting 2.25% proposal.

Thank you,