Posted on 09/05/2007 9:19:39 AM PDT by From The Deer Stand
Clerical, technical and health workers at the University of Minnesota went on strike Wednesday. Contract talks broke between the union and the university as of 11:00 a.m. Tuesday evening.
The union represents about 3,500 workers which is approximately 17 percent of the statewide University of Minnesota employees. Officials at the University said the second day of fall classes will go ahead as planned. The union chose to delay the strike date from Tuesday to Wednesday because had they struck on Tuesday they would have lost their Labor Day pay.
Phyllis Walker, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3800, said the strike could cause disruptions on some departments, bringing some to a "standstill."
Employees participating in the strike handle a variety of duties on the campuses including fixing computers, distributing paychecks, working as assistants for dentists and veterinarians, and many other tasks.
The school's contingency plans are to keep the campuses running with students or temporary workers filling the gaps.
In their communications with the public, both sides are disputing exactly what the latest contract proposal involves.
According to AFSCME, the proposal offers raises of 2.25 percent per year for clerical and technical workers and 2.5 percent for health care workers. The union said at that level the pay raises wouldn't cover inflation.
The university, however, noted that the increases are actually higher because they include step increases for years of service. Administrators claim their offer would provide 94 percent of AFSCME employees with at least a 4.5 percent pay increase each year.
Picket lines were out at 7 a.m. Wednesday at the university's campuses in the Twin Cities and Crookston. Other campuses being struck include Duluth, Morris and Rochester.
Why are these contingency plans? These should be SOP. Tell the union to go screw and hire non-union workers.
here we go......more positive press for the state and the businesses that are here or wish to come here...what company in their right mind would locate here with a militant labor climate? The taxes are bad enough, but throw in the militant work force ( or the perception of one ) and they will locate in the south......what don’t the damn union thugs understand? no businesses, no jobs, no taxes being collected, no union.......
Fire all the commie rats. Start over with reliable people who deserve their jobs instead of these pigs at the trough.
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