The University administration wants to force all staff to take unpaid furlough days, and hopes to save $13 million. Forced furloughs place an unfair burden on the lowest paid staff and faculty who are already struggling to get by, while over 250 administrators who earn more than $200,000 push the U’s budget problems onto the backs of staff and students.

Click here to read the rest and to send your message to the regents!

Rally and March for Education Rights:
No Layoffs, No Furloughs, No Tuition Hikes
Thursday, March 4
Noon
Northrup Plaza

 At the University of Minnesota over 250 administrators earn more than $200,000 in salaries with the Administration pushes its budget problems onto the backs of staff and students. Skyrocketing tuition and staff layoffs abound – and now we hear about possible furloughs.

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION! Join students, staff, and faculty around the US to demand that higher education be funded – it’s a right and not a privilege! It’s time for those who can afford it to take the cuts!

Rally and march organized by: Chop from the Top Coalition and Save Our School Campaign Coalition, AFSCME 3800, AFSCME 3937, Graduate Student Workers United, Students for a Democratic Society, Faculty for the Renewal of Public Education, Labor Scholars, and the Black Student Union

Endorsed by: St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, MN Coalition for a People’s Bailout

Please print out the attached flyer and post in your workplace. Bring your coworkers,
friends and
family.

******************

Senior administrators at the U of M want to balance the budget on the backs of staff and students. Some of their plans include:

— Furloughs
President Bruininks told senior administrators that he intends to make staff take 10 furlough days (unpaid days off) over the next year.

This is equivalent to a 4% pay cut for hourly staff at the university and we can’t afford it. Pay and holidays are negotiated with the unions on campus, and cannot be unilaterally dictated.

— Layoffs
Layoffs are already taking place at the U. Hundreds of frontline staff have been laid off since the hiring pause began, while over 250 administrators continue to make more than $200,000 per year.

Layoffs mean that there are fewer staff to do the important work of helping students navigate the university system from admissions to graduation. The work is still there, and has increased as admissions have gone up. The remaining staff are forced to work harder and are working through breaks and lunches. This is not legal, nor sustainable and ultimately students will suffer as services and support decrease.

— Attacks on benefits
University administrators are discussing ways to cut our hard-earned benefits. Their ideas include cutting the tuition benefit for graduate teaching and research assistants.

— Making education unaffordable
Between 2000-2007, undergraduate tuition went up over 68%. The administration wants to pit students against staff by telling us it’s either tuition increases or layoffs. This is a false choice.

As the university faces increasing budget cuts they are putting the
burden on the backs of the lowest paid staff and students rather than those that
can afford it – the administrators, of whom over 250 earn more than $200,000 each
year.

Join us as we rally to tell the administration that we’ve had enough,
it’s time for the University’s priorities to change – CHOP FROM THE TOP! No
furloughs, no more layoffs of frontline staff and no tuition hikes!

Legislative Session Opening Day Rally

State Capitol Steps

February 4 - 12:00 noon
Free chartered bus for U workers leaving from Morrill Hall at 11:15 a.m. sharp
and returning to the U by 1:30 p.m.

Join us to demand a real solution to the economic crisis

February 4 is the opening day of the Minnesota legislative session. Once again, this year looks to be a very difficult session for working people, and this includes U workers. With another
multi-billion dollar deficit projected, Governor Pawlenty and many legislators are talking
about deep cuts to higher education (including the U budget), cuts to all kinds of social services that serve working and poor people, and cuts to state agencies in general. State aid to cities and counties is also on the chopping block, which will affect even more programs as well as translating into job cuts for city and county workers. Cuts like these will only make the
economic situation worse. We need to speak out against such cuts.

AFSCME Local 3800 is part of a coalition called the Minnesota Coalition for a People's Bailout, which brings together various unions and organizations representing working and poor
people in Minnesota. The coalition is organizing a rally on the steps of the capitol on February 4, the opening day of the legislative session. We are rallying to tell legislators that cuts to public services and furloughs and layoffs of public sector workers are not the answer to the economic crisis. We will tell Governor Pawlenty and Minnesota's politicians
to not balance the budget on our backs, but instead raise taxes on those who can afford it: the wealthiest 10% and corporations. We will be asking legislators to support a package of bills that truly address the economic crisis. Here is what we will be fighting for in 2010: an extension of unemployment insurance, a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions of renters from
foreclosed buildings, job creation programs, a moratorium on layoffs of state workers (including the U), and more.

Local 3800 has chartered a bus so that a group of us can go together to the rally from the U. We
will be leaving from Morrill Hall at 11:15 a.m. sharp to head to the Capitol. Then our bus will leave the Capitol at 1:00 p.m. to be back at the U around 1:30 p.m. Our union will pay your salary for 'lost time' away from work so you can attend the rally. Please contact us to let us know you are interested or for more information. It will be first-come first-served for the bus seats.

Rally in Support of Twin Cities Janitors (SEIU Local 26)
Saturday, January 30th
11am-1pm
312 Central Ave,
2nd Floor
Minneapolis, MN 55414

Janitors in the Twin Cities, members of SEIU Local 26, have been attempting to bargain a contract for the last month and a half to win good, green jobs. Janitors clean the buildings of some of the biggest companies in the US:
·         Wells Fargo, which made $3 billion dollars last year
·         US Bank, which made $1.8 billion dollars last year
·         Target, which made $2 billion dollars in 2008

But instead of bargaining in good faith, the janitors’ employers have chosen to retaliate against janitors who are speaking up at their job sites.

This Saturday, janitors in SEIU Local 26 will vote to authorize a strike. This is a historic moment, as janitors take a stand not just for their rights and good jobs, but also to create and leave behind a healthier environment for our children.  AFSCME 3800 will be joining our sisters and brothers throughout the labor movement this Saturday, January
30th, as janitors show they are ready to fight against unfair labor practices and for Good Jobs and a Green Future.

click here for flyer to print out and post

Tell President Bruininks:

Don't Balance the Budget on the

Backs of
Staff and Students

Rally: Thursday
Jan 21

Noon

In Front of Morrill Hall

President Bruininks
and senior administrators want to balance the budget on the backs of staff and
students.  Some of their plans include:

—   Furloughs

President Bruininks told senior administrators that he
intends to make staff take 10 furlough days (unpaid days off) over the
next year.

This is a pay cut for hourly staff at the university and we
can’t afford it. Pay and holidays are negotiated with the unions on campus, and
cannot be unilaterally dictated.

—   Layoffs

Layoffs are already taking place at the U. Hundreds of
frontline staff have been laid off since the hiring pause began, while over 250
administrators continue to make more than $200,000 per year.

Layoffs mean that there are fewer staff to do the important
work of helping students navigate the university system from admissions to
graduation. The work is still there, and has increased as admissions have gone
up. The remaining staff are forced to work harder and are working through
breaks and lunches. This is not legal, nor sustainable and ultimately students
will suffer as services and support decrease.

—   Attacks
on benefits

University administrators are discussing ways to cut our
hard-earned benefits. Their ideas include cutting pensions and cutting the
tuition benefit for graduate teaching and research assistants.

—   Making
education unaffordable

Between 2000-2007, undergraduate tuition went up over 68%.
The administration wants to pit students against staff by telling us it’s
either tuition increases or layoffs. This is a false choice.

As the university
faces increasing budget cuts they are putting the burden on the backs of the
lowest paid staff and students rather than those that can afford it – the
administrators, of whom over 250 earn more than $200,000 each year.

Join us as we rally the first week of the new semester to
tell the administration that we’ve had enough, and it’s time for the University’s
priorities to change – CHOP FROM THE TOP! 
No furloughs, no more layoffs of frontline staff, and no tuition hikes!

AFSCME DAY ON THE HILL 2010

Wednesday, Feb. 17

Last year over 1100 AFSCME members from around the state attended the
annual Day on the Hill - a day when we turn the Capitol green!
This year - we need even more of our members to rock the Rotunda as we
work to help shape the last critically important year of the current
2-year biennium. This session will decide how much money there is to
help pay for our jobs and for the vital public services we provide.

Over 1000 AFSCME jobs in state and local government will be
lost unless the budget crisis is addressed this year. We've felt the
pinch here at the University, and we cannot bleed any more members into
the ranks of the unemployed. We need to push for raising revenue fairly
to fund these services - around the state and here at the University of
Minnesota.

The administration of the University of Minnesota recognizes
the crucial part that AFSCME plays in garnering funding for public
services, which include the University of Minnesota. U of M AFSCME
employees are allowed a paid work day to attend this event, since our
activities can have a direct impact on the funding of the University.

AFSCME Day on the Hill starts in the morning at the Crown
Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel in St. Paul with two information
sessions: You can learn about the State Budget for 2010, or you can
attend the Lawmaking Process session. We have a working lunch, during
which members get together with other AFSCME members from their
Legislative districts to discuss an agenda for afternoon meetings with
their legislators. (You can also take a Capitol Building tour that
starts in the afternoon and last about 45 minutes - you'll want to sign
up early for that.)

There is a $20.00 contribution for the day - for the lunch and
other materials you will receive at the workshops and at registration.
This is an individual contribution since our Local does not pay the
expenses for Day on the Hill.

TO REGISTER FOR DOTH:

- Send an e-mail to the Local office at union@afscme3800.org

Provide
your name, your work department, and your supervisor's name (that's so
we can put you on the list to send to Central Human Resources to ensure
no problems with your day off at the Capitol.)
Also include your home address and your Legislative District number if you know it.
Also let us know which of the two information sessions you wish to attend - Minnesota Budget or Lawmaking Process
- Send a check made out to AFSCME PEOPLE to the Local office.
- IF you have already sent in a registration form and check to the
AFSCME Council 5 office, please send an e-mail to the Local office to
let us know.

Noon information meetings regarding the agreement have been scheduled for this week in areas throughout the campus. See the list below for meeting dates locations.

Voting on the agreement will take place after we have held all of our informational meetings. Only members may vote. Non-members are urged to join the Union and participate in this process. We will notify you of the voting process later this week.

All informational meetings will be held from noon to 1:00pm.

Tuesday, June 23:
West Bank
105 Blegen Hall

Wednesday, June 24:
WBOB/1100 Washington Ave.
142 WBOB

Wednesday, June 24:
St. Paul 
120 Coffey Hall

Thursday, June 25:
Med Area
Mayo A110

Friday, June 26:
East Bank
170 Tate Hall

Monday, June 29:
Como Area
Printing Services Room 111

Tuesday, June 30:
Conference call for outstate members.
Details on the call will be emailed out later this week.

Click on the links below to read the testimony given by clerical workers at the Regents' budget hearing on June 17, 2009.

Cherrene Horazuk's testimony

Kem Tae Lynch's testimony

Mary Lou Middleton's testimony

Phyllis Walker's testimony

Kelly Alghamdi Zimmerscheid's testimony

And click here for coverage from KARE 11 of the union's press conference before the Regents hearing: Higher Education Reeling from State Budget Cuts

(see summary in PDF format | See summary as a Grid )

Tentative Agreement Summary for contract 2009-2011, June 10, 2009 

On Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 9:00 p.m., our AFSCME clerical negotiating committee and the University reached a tentative agreement in settlement of our negotiations for the contract year 2009-2011.

A summary of the terms of settlement follows. Information about voting on the tentative agreement will be distributed to members as the details are finalized. Only members may vote, but you are urged to sign a membership card to join the Union and participate in this process.

Article 19, Wages

• All Clerical Bargaining Unit employees whose pay rate falls within the pay ranges for the Unit will receive a 2% general wage adjustment on July 1, 2010. The pay ranges will all move up 2%.
• Progression steps will be temporarily suspended from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011. All language regarding step increases remains printed (as shaded paragraphs) in the contract. The University dropped its proposal to include an additional sentence that stated, “Step movement shall be discontinued until a new agreement is negotiated.”

Article 20, Insurance

• There are several changes to the section entitled “Basic Coverage”, but for most employees these will have a relatively minor impact.  These changes will become effective 1/1/2010.
• The Union and the University agreed that there will be no changes in the percentages to employees’ contributions to their Health Plans (90%/10% for the employee-only contribution; 85%/15% for family coverage)
• One of the most important pieces of information we received from the University is that in any situation in which the use of a higher-priced drug is a medical necessity, the Prior Approval process will apply.
• Specialty drug coverage (in which a drug is administered in a lab or a clinical setting, such as the infusion of a medication) will now be covered through the pharmacy plan rather than the medical plan. This is primarily an administrative change rather than a change that will affect how the actual drug is administered.
• Low-dose Lipitor, when not used for its secondary therapeutic value, will be moved to a non-formulary copay in order to encourage the use of low-dose generic equivalents.
• The pharmacy plan will provide only one brand of diabetic testing equipment and supplies at the generic copay. The University will arrange for informational presentations by the provider and manufacturer, and will make detailed information available regarding the use and capabilities of the meters and test strips. (The Prior Approval process will continue to apply to exceptions for these products as well.)
• Pharmacy copays will increase for the medications that are not listed as Generic Plus:
• Generic Plus drugs will remain at $8
• Brand formulary drugs will be raised from $20 to $25
• Non-formulary drugs will be raised from $35 to $50
• Emergency Room copays will be raised from $50 to $75, but the copay will continue to be waived if the patient is admitted to the hospital
• A new copay for MRI and CT scans will be instituted at $25, but there will still be no copays for lab/diagnostic testing.
• The office visit copay will be increased from $10 to $11 for the Base Plan and Health Partners.
• Obsolete language regarding a one-time 2008 open-enrollment for life insurance will be deleted

MOUs and other material appended to the contract

·         An MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) from the 2007-09 contract regarding an agreement to meet and confer on issues relating to our salary steps (compression of steps, length of pay ranges, etc.) will be modified to a letter, which will recognize what we have already accomplished and acknowledge that either party may wish to pursue the next logical steps in a more favorable economic climate.

• There will be a new MOU to address issues surrounding Respectful Workplace and anti-bullying language. Representatives from the Union and the University will meet and confer to discuss the issues and possibly arrive at some processes to address them. The speed of this negotiations process did not allow us an opportunity to fully discuss all the parties’ concerns.

“Housekeeping changes”

• All the appropriate date changes will be made, along with continuing all the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and the Fitness Incentive Letter.

The Unit 6 Clerical Union Negotiations Committee recommended acceptance of this Tentative Agreement. 

Phyllis Walker                                     Cherrene Horazuk

Peter Lunney                                       Sven Erik Olson

Laura Mirelez                                      Kelly Alghamdi Zimmerscheid

Andy Carhart                                      Julia Gladhill

Ginger Nohl                                        Laura Stolle Schmidt

Kem Tae Lynch

The clerical negotiating committee reached a tentative agreement with the University of Minnesota at 9:30 on Wednesday night, June 10th. Details regarding the agreement will be posted by the end of the day Thursday.