University Administrators want to avert a strike on the first day of
classes, not by putting a reasonable wage offer on the negotiating
table, but by convincing underpaid clerical, technical and healthcare
workers to vote for a substandard offer.
Why are University AFSCME members hired today for 5% less than they were
hired in 2002? Why, at every level of the pay range, are University
AFSCME members paid 5% less than they were in 2002?
Are any University Administrators hired today for 5% less than what they
would have made 5 years ago?
Is it only chief administrators who deserve real economic progress?
It is unconscionable of Administrators, whose salaries are well abreast
of inflation, to expound about competitive wages – shorthand for keeping
staff wages at poverty levels. Walk in the shoes of employees who work
second and third jobs, who are losing their homes, who don’t have
savings for retirement, who don’t take vacations, who are paying
hundreds, and in some case thousands, of dollars more for health care
than they did 10 years ago – then you will have earned the right to talk
about “appropriate” and “competitive” wages.
U. Administrators are the only public employers in the state of
Minnesota who appear to need help in differentiating between a cost of
living increase and a step increase.
We are a Union of over 40,000 public employees in Minnesota. We are
involved in contract negotiations 365 days/year. We have not found a
single other public employer who has rolled steps into the general wage
adjustment to make it look like their settlement offer is more than it is.
Why is it that the University always cries broke when it comes to staff
salaries?
When the University fell short of dollars needed to build the stadium,
U. Administrators didn’t send a letter out to employees saying “We’re
sorry; we can’t go ahead with this project.” No. They said, “We’ll do
whatever it takes to find the money.”
Our Union went to the Legislature on behalf of the University. AFSCME
made sure the University was included in the State salary supplement.
Our Union was prepared to get creative at the negotiating table – to
discuss how get our members caught up with the rate of inflation over
the life of the contract. The University cut that discussion short with
its “settlement offer” of 2.25% and 2.5% and the message that there was
no more room for wage discussion.
Our members elected a negotiating team to represent them. This time
clerical, technical and healthcare workers are united. Your Team has
unanimously called for a reject and strike vote. Your team is also ready
to come back to the table anytime. Our goal is settlement.
Each additional 1% wage increase is a cost of $1.1 million to the
University. Will it break the bank to make the economic wellbeing of
AFSCME members a priority? You do the math.
Union Presidents Rhonda Jennen, Phyllis Walker, Denise Osterholm, Barb Bezat
Your Joint Negotiating Team and Negotiators
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AFSCME Local 3800
1313 5th St SE #332B
Minneapolis, MN 55414
www.afscme3800.org
union@afscme3800.org