All News

Aug 16

Contract Negotiations Update #4

On Tuesday, August 13^th, we returned to the negotiating table with the University Administration. Watch a video update on the latest round of negotiations and find details on our ongoing organizing for affordable healthcare and a livable wage at the U.

Aug 16

"We will fight against the cost shifting attempts of the administration."

Read the text of the speech given by AFSCME 3800 President Cherrene Horazuk on August 5, 2013, at the Rally for Affordable and Accessible Health Care at the University of Minnesota.

Aug 08

Obamacare Opens For Business, Shuts Out Labor

Unions pushed hard for health care reform, finally settling for a half-measure in the Affordable Care Act. Employers are responding to the law by lowering benefits to match its floor.

Aug 08

Death by 1,000 health care cuts

Minnesota Daily Editorial Board:

The University should bring all options to the table before scaling back employee benefits.

AFSCME 3800 President Cherrene Horazuk said, “If you don’t respect working-class workers, how do you respect working-class students?”

Jul 25

Contract Negotiations Update #3

On Monday, July 22, our clerical negotiating committee met with the University of Minnesota’s management committee.

The University stuck to their proposed general increase that averages 14 cents an hour per person. A 14 cent an hour (.75%) raise works out to $24.27 a month before taxes, and would not even cover the cost of one copay at the proposed higher rates.

We said no to all of the University's proposals that would shift additional costs onto our members.

We also modified our proposed restructuring of the step system, from a maximum of 15 steps to reach the top of the wage scale, to a maximum of 17 steps.

Jul 25

U of M wants to scale back employee health care coverage

The University of Minnesota is considering changes for 2014 that would increase copays for primary and specialty care, require employees to pay deductibles, and establish a cheaper, but more limited plan for Twin Cities area employees, among other things.

Jul 11

Contract Negotiations Update #2

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE

A. Update on Day Two of Negotiations

B. Health Insurance Cost Shifting

C. Why didn’t clerical workers receive raises on our last paycheck?

D. Step increases continue automatically

Jun 20

Negotiations 2013 Updates - part 1

Contract Negotiations Opened Tuesday, June 18

Read more about the opening day of negotiations...

Jun 13

Cherrene Horazuk

University of Minnesota clerical workers protest 25 job cuts (Star Tribune)

The union representing clerical workers at the University of Minnesota will protest recent layoffs Friday before the Board of Regents votes on the 2014 operating budget.

Jun 13

Melanie Steinman

Unions appeal OIT employee layoffs (MN Daily)

Union leaders are fighting the layoffs of 25 University of Minnesota Office of Information Technology employees, citing problems with understaffing and the way the layoffs occurred.

Representatives from the University’s clerical union have filed grievances on the layoffs and requested the University re-evaluate them. They also addressed the Board of Regents at its public forum on the University budget last week about the layoffs, which occurred late last month.