August 27, 2007

Contacts: Phyllis Walker, President AFSCME 3800, 612-251-9987
Barb Bezat, President AFSCME 3937,612-379-3933
Denise Osterholm, AFSCME 3801 (UMD) 218 726 6312
Rhonda Jennen, AFSCME 3260 612-625-4908

AFSCME UNIONS CHALLENGE BRUININKS COMMENTS REGARDING STAFF PAY

AFSCME Unions at the University of Minnesota have filed intent to strike for the first week of class. The University of Minnesota has offered only a 2.25% wage increase for most of the unions and 2.5% for health care workers. This wage adjustment does not meet the expected rate of inflation for the coming two years.

The University is trying to add "step increases" to inflate this number but in fact it is fuzzy math. No other union employer, including the state of Minnesota attempts to factor in step increases as part of the wage increase.  A worker doesn't get paid for the full value of their position until they reach the top step.  Attempts to add in step increases only devalue the positions more.

Denise Osterholm, President of Local 3801, Duluth said, "The University is proposing a 9.5% increase in health insurance premiums for the base plan and upwards of 20% for some of the family plans. Robert Bruininks should study the University's proposal before he states ""We weren't going to ask our employees to take reductions in health care; we weren't going to pass on costs to them."

Phyllis Walker, President of Local 3800 added, "Robert Bruininks has said, "We would have to go back and make some appropriate adjustments to [other employee groups'] compensation."  All other public employees in the State of Minnesota received a least a 3.25% salary increases plus their annual 2% step increases this year.  The University is the only public employer that is trying to shortchange its workforce by offering only 2.25%.  The U received their budget request of 3.25% for each employee from the Legislature this year.  They also received an additional amount for a salary supplement.  They have no excuse for shortchanging us this year."

Barbara Bezat, President of AFSCME 3937 and an assistant archivist in the University Libraries pointed out, "The fact is that someone who starts as a Library Assistant today is making 5% less than someone who started in 2003. We are fighting not just for ourselves but for living wage jobs for the future. We cannot become a top research university if we continue to keep staff wages far below inflation. Unless the annual July increase is above the rate of inflation, we're not getting a raise, we're taking a pay cut."

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