University stonewalls workers, union support swells

by Dennis Geisinger

Al Franken speaks with striking University workers at the support rally on September 10.

As of Sept. 7, the University of Minnesota was holding fast to its offer of how much it’s willing to pay its some 3,500 clerical, health care and technical workers, refusing to negotiate with a union demand for cost-of-living increases that has received growing support from across the state and nation since a strike was called Sept. 5.

A letter dated Aug. 10 from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union negotiating committee sent to university representatives said, “Your settlement offer is unacceptable and leaves no room for us to make a counter offer.”

“The University was not the one to leave the bargaining table,” said Daniel Wolter, director of the university news service, last week. “That was the union’s decision. We continue to be ready and willing to return to the table to bring an end to the strike,” Wolter said.

The university’s proposal offers a 2.25 percent per year increase for clerical and technical workers and a 2.5 percent increase for health care workers. An established 2 percent step increase for each year of service would continue within the two-year contract. University administrators contend that this would mean 94 percent would earn at least a 4.5 percent pay increase for each year.
What it really means, says AFSCME, which represents four local union chapters, is that the U refuses to accept that step increases are not cost-of-living increases although it’s something that’s recognized in most wage negotiations. According to AFSCME, university employees that are AFL-CIO were given 3 percent wage increases in addition to step increases the week previous to the walk-out.
“The union’s efforts to confuse people by suggesting step increases don’t cost anything and don’t amount to a portion of their raise is disingenuous,” said Wolter. “It’s real money that comes from taxpayers and tuition payers and ends up in workers’ pockets,” he said.

AFSCME says that since 1994, its members’ average wages and salaries have decreased 4.84 percent when adjusted for inflation, while during the same period, average administration and faculty salaries have increased 79 percent.
University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks’ 10 percent raise for this year amounts to $38,000. Bruininks was given a 17.5 percent increase over the next two years through a 3.25 percent salary supplement provided by the state legislature.

“The University of Minnesota pays market competitive wages across its job classifications,” said Wolter. “When it comes to the president’s salary, the U is competitive with—or even below—our peer institutions and other Big Ten schools,” he said.
“We expected those funds to be used to benefit all University employees,” said a letter sent by the chairs of separate Minnesota House Education and Finance Committees, Reps. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia) and Mary Murphy (DFL-Hermantown), to the University Board of Regents and Bruininks last week.

“I guess he decided to give the money to other people—like himself,” said U.S. Senatorial candidate Al Franken before speaking at a noon AFSCME rally last Monday.

“I’ve walked picket lines. I support unions. I get it,” said Franken.
Franken is just one on a list of local, state and national politicians who have made their support for striking university employees known in letters, published statements or personal appearances. Another seeker of Minnesota’s 2008 Senate seat, Mike Ciresi, also spoke at a campus rally during the strike’s first week.

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential contender, John Edwards, made an appearance on the strike’s first day. U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) released a letter to Bruininks last Wednesday, asking him to “take the necessary steps to end the strike and to make the University of Minnesota a place that respects all of its workers.” Obama cancelled an organizing convention that had been scheduled for last weekend at the University “in solidarity with the strikers.”

“The workers’ requests are simple and reasonable,” said Obama. “Their real pay has dropped over the last few years as the cost of living has increased,” he said.
State Senator Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul), State Senator Patricia Torres Rey (DFL-Minneapolis) and Minneapolis City Council Member Gary Schiff (DFL-Ward 9) have all signed on in support of AFSCME strikers. Minnesota’s Speaker of House of Representatives Margaret Anderson Kelliher has also contacted Bruininks by mail, encouraging him “to find a compromise that honors those workers that serve the University of Minnesota, its students, and the public.”
Nineteen university Ccollege of Liberal Arts Department heads signed a public letter to Bruininks in support of university AFSCME workers. A number of university professors and teaching assistants have refused to cross picket lines, moving classes that involve thousands of students off campus.

“The strike has been disruptive, but has not interfered with university operations,” said Wolter last Wednesday.

But strikers say the picketing of loading docks has turned away trucks and caused others to wait for supervisors to drive across picket lines to unload. Notice was given soon after the strike began that the West Bank and St. Paul bursar’s offices will be closed for the duration. Dental and health care and veterinary clinics have either rolled back services or been allowed to only accept emergencies. Minneapolis dispatchers are also AFSCME and are handling 911 calls for the U of M only. The loss of so many services integral to the U in so many departments may not be noticed immediately.