Believe it or not, after months of negotiations, and after both AFSCME 3800 and AFSCME 3937 have filed for mediation, the University of Minnesota is still offering its unionized staff cost of living raises of less than 1%! The petition delivery 2 weeks ago has had no discernible impact yet. So yesterday we held a larger rally, scheduled just before AFSCME 3800's negotiating team met with management.
Council 5's photo :
The chant I used for the title is not just talk. Many of us are struggling with basic expenses. I may not be average, as a 14 year employee in the technical unit (AFSCME 3937), I may be making more than a newish Teamster. However, we long term employees are still not able to catch up from the years of wage freezes, either. I considered posting a snapshot of my entire budget, but it should be enough to know that one biweekly paycheck amounts to slightly less than the combination of my mortgage payment + HOA fee. The people making decisions about what to offer us don't seem to understand that we aren't getting a living wage. So we are trying harder to make ourselves heard.
We got a beautiful, sunny, crisp fall day for the event. Sharice of AFSCME 3800 started us out singing Solidarity Forever.
As you can see from the banners in that photo, we did get some solidarity from other unions , plus students and faculty.
Speakers were bookended by our AFSCME local presidents. Mary Austin, president of 3937, went first and gave us the latest on the disrespect we get at the negotiating table.
Other members of our locals spoke to various topics. Mick Kelly of Teamsters Local 320 reminded the administration we are ready to fight. Claire Thiele, also of Local 320, told of how a co-worker who stayed home with her sick children, then got sick herself, was disciplined for using her sick time!! Julie Smith of AFSCME local 3801, drove down to tell us about the bullying she sees on the Duluth campus.
Some of our supporters spoke as well- faculty, grad students, and Students for a Democratic Society all told of their appreciation for what we do and how essential we are to keeping the University running. Patrick Guernsey of AFSCME Local 552 expressed solidarity and support; they are facing similar issues with Hennepin County. Eliot Seide of AFSCME Council 5 let the administration know we are standing together and standing firm in his usual fiery style.
We listened attentively, interspersed with cheering, chants and when appropriate, booing!
And the woman peering at her phone next to the man in purple is still paying attention, she is just busy live tweeting, I know because it's me! AFSCME 3800's photo:
Cherrene Horazuk, president of AFSCME local 3800, spoke last, firing up all of us, but especially her negotiating team as they were about to meet with management. She pointed out the hypocrisy of the scandal-ridden upper administration, saying they are working on Grand Challenges like societal justice while not paying their workers a living wage.
Cherrene also told us that in anticipation of our rally , Morrill Hall was in lockdown- you needed an ID and a reason to get in. Normally I walk right through this building on a regular basis, so I guess that was a sign administration was paying some attention. AFSCME 3800's photo:
Meanwhile, Kyle Edwards of AFSCME 3800 gets ready to lead some chants.
Because next we made a short march to the building where AFSCME 3800 would be negotiating.
In addition to support from the rally, AFSCME 3800's team brought extra people to the table. They wanted management to hear directly from some of the people who need a better contract.
Results of these actions remain to be seen, thank you for your continued support!