All News

Aug 18

Negotiations Update #4: We still can't survive--let alone thrive--on 0.375%

On Tuesday, July 21, the University upped their wage proposal to 0.375% each year. This adds about 2.5 cents/hour per worker to the original proposal of 4.9 cents/hour per worker. This is outrageous! The U negotiator also made clear that they don't intend to discuss or move on wages at the next bargaining session on August 13.

The University Administration needs to continue hearing from clerical workers that 0.375% is not an acceptable wage increase. Thanks to everybody who sent messages to President Kaler, VP Cathy Brown, and Chair Johnson earlier this week. We believe that the administration increased their proposal because of these emails, and will put more money on the table if they continue to hear from us.

If you haven’t done so, please add your name to an email petition to Administration with our message: we can’t survive--let alone thrive--on 0.375%.

Jul 17

We Can't Survive , Much Less Thrive on 0.25%

On Thursday, July 9th, we heard the University’s opening wage and health insurance proposals.

The Administration proposed a general (also known as Across The Board) increase of 0.25% per year. A 0.25% raise for our 1621 clerical workers is worth $158,311 a year. To put that in context, over 220 administrators have salaries higher than what the U wants to spend on raises for 1600 people. Even the University’s negotiator acknowledged, when making this proposal that, “the Across the Board proposal is not very good.”

Jun 18

Divide Grows at the University

By Michael Kuchta, AFSCME Council 5.

IB Image The University of Minnesota is building a caste system that increasingly takes care of those at the top while it pushes lower-paid, frontline workers further and further behind, union activists told the Board of Regents Friday.

“The University’s wage and benefit policies increase the gap between the haves and have-nots, and it’s got to stop,” says Cherrene Horazuk, president of Clerical Workers Local 3800.

Jun 18

Negotiations Update #2: June 16, 2015

The second round of negotiations for the 2015-2017 contract between AFSCME 3800/3801 and the University of Minnesota happened on June 16, 2015. Janel Mendoza, member of bargaining team and clerical on the Morris campus, reports on the second round and the responses from the U.

Jun 10

Workers object to U of M’s continued wrong priorities at Regents Budget Hearing

On Friday June 12, University of Minnesota campus union workers will hold a press conference regarding the U of M proposed budget before testifying inside the McNamara Alumni Center (200 Oak St SE, Minneapolis) at the Regents public budget hearing.

At the hearing members of U of M AFSCME and Teamsters Local 320, which collectively represent over 4,000 University workers, will testify on the U of M budget proposals.

Jun 08

Contract Negotiations 2015 Officially Begin

Negotiations for the 2015-2017 contract between AFSCME 3800/3801 and the University of Minnesota formally opened on June 3, 2015. Our union committee presented our proposals, which were determined by surveying clerical workers system-wide regarding needs, issues, and priorities. The proposals were then finalized and ratified by the Clerical Assembly - an elected committee of over 100 clerical workers statewide. Our message to the University administration was simple: we need raises and respect; we bargain for our families; and we deserve equity in benefits with other employee groups.

Apr 20

Fight for 15 Rally

Check out Workday Minnesota's Video from the Fight for 15 Rally.

Mar 04

Supporting a Strong Union

AFSCME Council 5 voted to increase the per cap (per person) rate for all AFSCME members and fee payers in Minnesota and this went into effect on January 1, 2015. Local 3800 voted in November to adjust the maximum dues and fee rate. Due to the time required for the international union to approve the constitutional language and for legally required notice periods, the Council 5 increase and local increase occurred separately, rather than in the same pay period.

Per the Local 3800 constitution, the Council 5 per cap increase automatically is passed on to members and fee payers. However, due to the formula in the Local 3800 constitution previously used to determine the maximum rate paid by members and fee payers, members and fee payers in the top half of the pay scale would not have seen an increase, though members and fee payers in the lower half of the pay scale would have seen an increase. At the November 2014 membership meeting, AFSCME 3800 members voted to increase the maximum rate paid by members and fee payers so that those in the higher end of the pay scales contribute an equal percentage of salary as those in the lower half of the pay scales. AFSCME 3800 members also voted for a small increase in the percentage paid by everybody, and the rate was changed from 1.67% to 1.75% of the biweekly gross pay, until the maximum rate is reached. Many people will see an increase of $2 or less per paycheck. The maximum increase will be approximately $6 per paycheck.

Jun 02

AFSCME Testifies at Regents Public Budget Hearing

AFSCME 3800 members joined students and faculty in speaking out for a quality affordable education, good paying jobs, and affordable healthcare at the Board of Regents Public Hearing on the Budget on May 9.

Apr 28