December 2007 Newsletter

U of M Strike of 2007 - What We Faced, What We Accomplished

Local 3800 Newsletter Editorial 

The 2½ week strike of the clerical, technical and health care locals at the University of Minnesota has ended, but the discussion of the outcome of the strike, what we have learned and what we have gained, continues.

December 2007 Newsletter

Message from the Union President 

Taking Stock of the 2007 Strike 

By Phyllis Walker, Local 3800 President

In October 2003 hundreds of clerical workers at the University of Minnesota walked out and struck the University in the first strike at this institution in over 60 years. AFSCME Local 3800 stayed out for 15 days. We were fighting major takebacks in our contract. We were on the defensive.

The December 2007 edition of the Local 3800 newsletter is now available. This is the special 'post-strike edition' of the newsletter, with in-depth assessment of the strike - what we faced, what we accomplished, and how the union has been strengthened moving forward. And it has some great pictures from the strike too! Click here to see the December 2007 newsletter online (it's a large PDF file - please be patient if it takes a while to download to your computer).

Please open and print the following documents and use them to help raise money for the Mutual Support Fund. 

Fundraising Letter (pdf)

Fundraising Flyer  (pdf)

With 80 percent approval, AFSCME members have voted to accept the University of Minnesota's contract offer for 2007-2009. That means clerical, health care and technical workers will not return to the picket line this fall.

After receiving the University's offer, AFSCME members ended their 13-day strike for economic justice and returned to work by September 27.

The union negotiating committee found the wage offer inadequate because it fails to keep up with inflation. For that reason, the committee made no recommendation on how members should vote on the contract offer. Last week 3,150 AFSCME members had the opportunity to vote by mail ballot. Voters had two choices: to accept the contract, or to reject it and strike. Ballots were counted October 15.

The two-year contract includes a 2.25 percent cost of living increase for clerical and technical workers, a 2.5 percent cost of living increase for health care workers, plus steps to reward longevity and a $300 lump sum in each year. Workers who don't receive step increases will get an additional $300 in each year. The union's summary of the contract is posted at www.afscmemn.org. Go to Bargaining Updates and click on U of M.

A typical U of M AFSCME worker earns $34,000 a year and qualifies for food stamps if supporting a family of four. That worker will earn $1,065 more next year with the new contract. The raise won't cover the rising cost of food, gas and housing. Due to inflation, someone starting work under the new contract will earn 8 percent less than someone who started the job in 2003.

"Workers approved this contract for the same reason we were forced back to work," explained Denise Osterholm, president of UMD Local 3801. "We're struggling to afford food, gas and housing. We can't sustain a further loss of wages,"

"The University should be ashamed that its workers can't afford to attend or send their kids to the University," said Barb Bezat, president of Technical Local 3937.

"Morale has tanked and it's time for the Bruininks administration to recognize that world class universities don't treat their workers like second class citizens," said Rhonda Jennen, president of Health Care Local 3260.

"We're energized to build a world class union and a world class university, which welcomes Minnesota's working class, treats us with respect, and helps us prosper," said Phyllis Walker, president of Clerical Local 3800.

All four of the local union presidents have vowed to continue their struggle for economic justice.

AFSCME Council 5 provides one strong united voice for 43,000 public and non-profit workers in Minnesota, including 3,150 health care, technical and clerical workers at five University of Minnesota campuses in the Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris and Rochester.

Dear University community member,

In light of the AFSCME strike at the University of Minnesota, many faculty and staff members have mixed feelings about contributing to the University's 2007 Community Fund Drive. In an Oct. 4 e-mail to colleagues, a faculty member in the Department of Theater Arts and Dance wondered if "perhaps the President (Bruininks) will see the irony of asking his employees to support charity causes that they may well have to resort to using, due to the inadequacy of the University's compensation for their work." Realizing this dilemma, rank-and-file union members did their homework and found an alternative so faculty and staff may voice their disapproval of the University of Minnesota administration yet still contribute to community organizations that serve people in need.

YOU can make a difference in these ways:

FIRST: Instead of contributing to Community Fund Drive organizations via the University of Minnesota, donate DIRECTLY to your chosen organization. Click here for instructions .

SECOND: support the AFSCME strike and its members by making a contribution to the U Workers strike fund by visiting http://www.uworkers.org. Dollars raised are available to union members through an application process to assist with paying bills in lieu of wages lost due to the strike. Remember from Ryan Mattke's October 3rd letter to the editor of the Minnesota Daily ( http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2007/10/03/72163631): the University says 1/3 of union members struck (more than 1,000 brave people), the average union member makes $17.04 per hour, and the strike lasted for 13 working days. That means on average each union member gave up $1,772 in wages. Please consider a contribution to the U Workers strike fund.

Thank you for your consideration and for your commitment to economic justice for all!

Sincerely,

(Your Name Here)

Applications will be accepted with a post date no later than Thursday October 4th.

Mail Applications to:

Mutual Support Committee
c/o AFSCME Local 3800/3937
1313 5th Street SE 332-B
Minneapolis, MN 55414

Please note:

We ask that people are patient with the Committee.  We have received an overwhelming amount of applications, and we are dealing with extremely limited and fluctuating funds.  We want to have a process that is fair and respectful to everyone.

Due to the volume of requests we have not been able to make the number of follow-up calls that we would have wanted.  We are working on correcting that, and those that submitted requests should hear from us soon.  Please be patient.

We also ask that people communicate to their creditors that you were on strike, and to ask them for a grace period, to wave late fees, or provide a payment plan. At this point the Committee is not able to make deadlines, and most creditors understand that - if there is communication.  Those that are especially concerned with their 'credit rating' should be making these calls.

Thank you-

Mutual Support

Click here for a printable pdf version of this meeting schedule

The following meetings have been scheduled to update U of M AFSCME technical, clerical and health care workers on the negotiations settlement offer and the upcoming membership vote.  These meetings are also a forum for workers to provide input on this important subject.  All meetings are from noon to 1:00 pm unless otherwise noted.  If you are unable to attend any of these meetings, contact your Union and arrangements will be made to get the information to you by other means.  If you are unable to arrange childcare, please feel free to bring your children to the meeting.  Please check the websites below for updates on locations and for more meetings as they are added.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007, 2007, Morris Campus Meeting, Student Center Prairie Lounge
Tuesday, October 2, 2007, Med Area Meeting, Room 555 Diehl Hall
Tuesday, October 2, 2007, St. Paul Meeting, Room 143 Classroom Office Building
Tuesday, October 2, 2007, Evening Meeting, 5:15 pm, Room 104 Amundson
Wednesday, October 3, 2007, West Bank Meeting, Room 10 Blegen
Wednesday, October 3, 2007, Med Area Meeting, Room W-120 Boynton
Wednesday, October 3, 2007, Como Area Meeting, Printing Services Conference Room (first floor)
(Note:  Como meetings will be held at 11:30 am, 12:00 pm, and 12:30 pm)
Wednesday, October 3, 2007, Evening Meeting, 5:15 pm, Room 146 McNeal Hall
Thursday, October 4, 2007, East Bank Meeting, Room 16 Vincent Hall
Thursday, October 4, 2007, WBOB Meeting, Room 140 WBOB
Friday, October 5, 2007, East Bank Meeting, Room 210 Tate Lab of Physics
Friday, October 5, 2007, CUHCC Clinic Meeting, Community Room
(Note:  CUHCC meetings will be held at both 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm)

Strike is over.

Settlement offer to be taken to a vote in early October. Details on vote will be available soon.

Strikers must return to work by their regular shift on Thursday, Sept 27. Strikers may return earlier if they wish. Strikers are not required to contact their supervisors before their return to work.

Watch this website and look for emails for further information of what happens next.